Rescuers discovered a 4-year-old naked and locked inside a steel cage as well as his 3-year-old sibling who was found inside a locked room in their home in Malabon City. The children were reported to have acute epilepsy.
"Mayroong isang bata doon na nakakulong"
Bong Padua, a member of the Malabon Rescue Team shares, "Mayroong nag-report na concerned citizen na sabi nila na mayroon daw na bata roon, matagal nang nakakulong." He goes on, "Confirmed na na mayroong isang bata doon na nakakulong doon sa parang may bahay na nga ng aso."
He goes on, "Confirmed na na mayroong isang bata doon na nakakulong doon sa parang may bahay na nga ng aso."
The rescuers quickly found the child inside the cage, and nearby residents also tipped them off to another child who was locked inside a room on the second floor of the house.
The team had to break open the lock to get inside the room, which was extremely small. "Nakapadlock ho 'yan. Ayan na 'yung bata. Mag-isa 'yung bata. Maliit na kuwarto lang 'yan. Puro semento, parang naka-bartolina," Padua said.
The parents said it was for their kids' safety
The parents turned up about half an ourh after the operation. They vehemently denied that they placed their own child inside a locked cage. Instead, they said that they were using the cage as a crib since they said that the 4-year-old broke his crib.
The mother shares, "Nasira ho dahil sa kaka-ganoon niya ho, tsaka sa kakatalon-talon." She adds, "Kasi kung cage ho 'yun, sana may bubong ho iyon."
The children's father chimed in, saying "Ginagawa talaga iyon para sa safety ng bata. Di naman...totally na kulungan iyon kasi hindi naman nakatago iyon. Nakalantad siya. Pag wala nang tao, nilalagay siya roon para lang for safety lang siya."
As for their other child, they insist that they're doing it for their child's safety by locking him inside a room.
"Sinafety lang din ho ng ama ko kasi nga may mga batang umaakyat. Mamaya bigla hong paluin sa ulo...Inaalagaan ho namin 'yung mga bata...Hindi man namin sinasaktan 'yan. Kasi special child nga ho sila," their mother adds.
The parents will be facing charges for violating Republic Act 7610, or the law protecting children from abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
According to Rose Ramos, a social worker, locking a child inside a room isn't safe.
"Hindi po safety iyon na 'yung bata po ay ni-lock nila sa isang maliit na kuwarto
"Iyung ganoon palang po na ikinandado nila, iniwan, walang legal age na nakatingin sa bata. May pananagutan sila doon," she said.
The children are currently under the custody of the Bahay Sandigan Tahanan ng Batang Pinoy in Malabon City where they will be turned over to an institution that helps special children.
"Ang ano ko lang po sa kanila...Kasi hiwalay na kami ng papa nila. Ang ano ko lang, alagaan nilang mabuti. Huwag nilang pabayaan. Lalo na sa gamot," their mom adds.
Source: gmanetwork.com
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