Parents of 3 kids found sleeping on Davao City street apologize to Duterte

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March 6, 2015 3:30pm

The parents of three children found sleeping on a Davao City street have apologized to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who found the children himself.

But Duterte was unmoved by the apology and said the parents will still face charges, GMA Davao reported on Friday.

Duterte ordered the parents arrested after chancing on the children — the youngest was six years old — sleeping on the street before dawn Thursday.

"Humihingi talaga kami ng patawad kasi hindi naman talaga namin sinasadya ang nangyari... Ang taas-taas ng pangarap ko sa mga anak ko. Yun lang talaga na natiyempuhan ni mayor na nasa labas, hinahanap naman talaga namin yan kung nawawala," said one of the parents.

"Humihingi lang din sana kami ng tulong na sana bigyan pa kami ng pagkakataon na mabago ang desisyon," the parent added.

The city's Ordinance 2491 or the Children's Welfare Code, requires the local government to make ensuring children's welfare a priority.

"No, no, no. Hindi yan madadala ng pagpapatawad kasi krimen yan. Hindi ako puwedeng pumasok sa mga ganyan, hindi ako nagpapatawad ng mga kriminal. Puwera na lang siguro kung bata. Huwag niyo talaga ako [puwedeng] lapitan kasi hindi ako tutulong," Duterte said.

The mayor also said this should serve as a lesson to the parents of the three children, so they would take care of their children and make sure they do not end up in the streets.

He said it would be better if the government took care of the children.

"Kayong mga magulang, kayong mga papa at mama, at kayong mga magkasintahan, okay lang naman kung gusto ninyo magkaanak. Ang problema, huwag ninyong iwan, huwag ninyong hayaan sa kalsada na parang aso," he said.

"Responsibilidad ninyo yan. Hindi ko na problema kung sasabihin ninyong wala kayong katulong... Huwag kayong mag-anak [kung hindi niyo maalagaan]" he added.

For now, the children are in the custody of the city social welfare department. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News

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