THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) called on the Local Government Units and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate the apparent sudden increase in street beggars in time for the Christmas Season, as they cited a possible link to a criminal syndicate.
Authorities said that they are now conducting an investigation into the reported increase of street beggars in Metro Manila.
“Mayroon kaming ongoing na investigation ngayon, kasi mayroong isang syndicated group na sinasamantala ‘yung mga indigenous people natin, mga IP natin na kababayan,” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rexlon Gatchalian said.
He also said that the sudden increase in numbers is highly suspicious.
“Syndicated ‘yung pagdadala nila sa Manila… Kakasuhan natin ng human trafficking ‘yung mga ‘yun,” he added.
The Metro Manila Council (MMC) on the other hand said that they too have noticed an increase in beggars as they are also looking at syndicates.
But he said that such has yet to be proven.
“Even when we interview them, they would always just say na bumiyahe sila ng Manila, nagbabakasakali, (they just decided to find opportunities in Manila) so kung meron man pong sindikato na meron diyan (so if there are any syndicates behind this), of course, we would refer than to the police,” MMC president and San Juan City mayor Francis Zamora said.
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