Rescuing God's Children

Fighting the Giant
By Rev. Goel B. Bagundol-UCCP BAC

Human trafficking has been one of the major problems in the Philippines mainly caused by extreme poverty. Sadly to say that children are the prime victims in this crime. Though the Philippine government works hard to resolve this problem but still the lack of sufficient coordination happen especially to down line processing and facilitating to the different government agencies like DSWD & Bantay Bata. Truly enough that there are lot of non-government organizations sprouting out like mushrooms who confidently claiming that they have the right connections and of course enormous funding abroad like the NGO “No to Trafficking” which is funded by USAID, they all keep you waiting and hanging with their highly technical vocabulary of promises. Yes, we did our best but in reality our best is far from enough! Our children have been enslave, literally slaves in this so called modern age.

“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
(Matthew 18:5-7) Christ Jesus was indeed deadly serious about the welfare of these little ones, he never let any room for compromising or any delays. Jesus took immediate action and love for God’s children.

The Case

2006, 3 minors namely Lilian Aglian (16 y.o.), Elizabeth Manayab (17y.o.) and Delfin Manayag (17y.0) were recruited by Paulo Vinansing at Iglugsad, San Fernando Bukidnon promising them to get a job as helpers in one of the stores in Cagayan de Oro City. Surprisingly, they were brought in barangay Patani, Marawi City. The children were sold to Ms. Nermin Malawani and Khadyamin Malawani as house helpers for P 8,000. Months later Danny, escaped and was able to retell their story to their parents.



Mrs. Lydia Mancilla the guardian parent of Lilian together with Elizabeth’s parents went to see their Children in Marawi City last year 2007. Both were denied of their request for Ms. Nermin told them, “Gipalit na namo sila sa kantidad nga P 8,000. Kung gusto nimong kwaon sila, bayran sa nimo ko.”(I already bought them for the amount of P8,000, if you wanted to get them, you have to pay me back the money) She added, “Well, you can get your children after one year. “ A year later last January 7, 2008, they went back to the couple but the same happened. They failed to get their children. With this Lydia Mancilla could not but sought help to different government agencies but with them and their complaints alone were not sufficient. Thus seeking help to our Church was the very last resort she did in rescuing their children.

The Ordeal
Ms. Lydia retold her conversation with Ms. Eusebia Q. Piscos the Municipal Social Welfare Officer of San Fernando, that she was told, “Kamo gayod mga lumad problema gud mo ug kami dayon inyong perwesyohon!” (You tribal people are trouble makers; you always bragged us with your troubles.) I thought that Ms. Lydia was just exaggerating but when I personally called Ms. Eusebia to ask her recommendation and assistance to the problem, she answered with straight forward remarked, “ I will not accompany them going to Marawi City, I can only make recommendation. For the last time I went there my life was almost endangered- I was being pointed with a gun by a Maranao. Never would I go there again.” I was grateful to her commitment of making the recommendation but I know for a fact that this is supposed to be their very job and danger is just a part of their job description.

I went to Iligan city together with Lydia to give the endorsed letter to BANTAY BATA. I visited first Rev. Carlos Iglupas the conference minister of Lanao District Conference to ask assistance to the whereabouts of the government agencies that will facilitate to solve the problem. We together with Rev. Utor and Rev. Danny Tubias went first to DSWD but were not entertained instead they advised us to go to Bantay Bata. But when we went there, we were like children listening to an old teacher’s scolding. Ms. Juanita Alviola said, “We do not rescue here, we just only provide shelter for the children! We are not the right agency.” Getting her point we insisted to have our letter received and we went on. Our last resource was to see PSSUPT Virgilio T. Ranes he Regional Director of PNP.

That following day we were able to met PSSUPT Ranes and was graciously accommodated our concern. With an immediate response, he called the PNP Marawi City division to facilitate their coming to rescue the children. Here was an immediate response to a certain problem of Trafficking. SSUPT Ranes never mentioned that it was not his jurisdiction nor said any words that delayed the rescue. He immediately acted to solve the problem.
The Rescue

“The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him”. Psalm 37:40

With the ordeal that we experienced, God had never forsaken us. God showed perfect helped and perfect timing of rescuing the children. January 17, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. we went for operation under the command of SPO3 Esrafil Rangaig together with PO2 Lynn Quioyo, PO3 Rodelio Diez, PO2 Ricky Anduade, PO2 Jenyfel Monsubre, SPO1 Gregorio Nahuman and PO1 Harvey Orbe and the two brave UCCP LDC ministers, Rev. Iglu[as and Rev. Tubias. We went first to the PNP Headquarter of Marawi City and were immediately assisted going to the location of the rescue.



“For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you; to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” Deuteronomy 20:4

We went to Barangay Patani and met 2 barangay officials who happened to be relatives of the couple who bought the children. Definitely, Maranaos live closely with their relatives and they have one faith and one family principle and this is to protect each other no matter the cause. We continue to go to the house and were able to approach the family with calmness. God was indeed working in our dealings with the couple’s relative. We never noticed how the crowd grew in numbers. They are all relatives and to offend one will result into trouble. The couple met us with firing words that they were not the bad people here, they only bought the children out of pity and treated them as their own family. During discussion they added that they are good Muslim who takes care of Allah’s people. I told them that we appreciate your kindness to these children, but still under the law of our land, children cannot be sold nor can be bought. The P 8,000 that you spend is not our responsibility to pay, we came here to rescue the children and we will take them with us. Though hesitant, they gave the children.

It should be noted here that under Islam, slavery is strictly prohibited. Slavery is part of the Maranao culture not an Islam teaching. Thus, such kind of system Waiting for the Couple is engraved in their culture and tradition. Their victims of their slavery are those who are not Muslim and they slave in the process will converted to Muslim.



Child Waiting to Be Rescued

After the successful rescue, we went to Barangay Banga to see the recruiter Paulo. When we get there Paulo was able to notice us thus made his way to escape. Barangay Banga is located in the remote place and was known to be a no man’s land- literary even Maranao Police do not want to come with us. Eventually we went and God was so kind in protecting us and giving us another mission.

Pena Indagnay was 9 years old when Langag Anggawa illegally brought her to Marawi City last three years ago. Basically she was sold and was bought for P 1,000. Being both means, there is no monthly salary or even allowance. You work in order to survive. When we saw her standing in the crowd, Lydia said, “that child needs our help. Please help her CM Goel.” I immediately ask her in front of the person who bought her, “do you want to go with us?’ Though fearful but she said in a small voice saying, “Yes”. I repeated the question twice and she answered the same yes.

We immediately took here with us. She brought nothing but her own self, no clothing nor things. She was shaky and so cold when we grabbed her from that place. Truly God included her to be rescued. We went immediately noticing that m0st men begun to act suspiciously.


Fighting the Giant

Human trafficking is a giant problem and God is calling us to fight against this problem like David had fought goliath and defeated him in God’s name. Right now we have to pick up small stones that will put this modern goliath into one’s death.

1. Stone of Prevention- The best thing to fight against Human Trafficking is to prevent it by happening. Though recruitment is inevitable nowadays but by facilitating right information and education one can be guided what is illegal and what is not. All agencies- the GO’s, Pos’ and Church People should work double time in educating the people.
2. Stone of Sourcing Resources and Connections. Clarity of the processes in rescuing the Trafficked Children is essential. In this experience, the complainants were toast back and fort, from one agency to another. There should no partiality in entertaining the client whether they are lumad or well-known personalities.
Mission Accomplished!
What matter most are the children. I am thankful for Lingap Pangkabataan who sponsored our expenses, so with the UCCP constituents –both individual and groups who gave themselves to be part of God’s work.
3. Stone of Responsibility. Not our jurisdiction! This is the common phrase you will hear in an agency. Human trafficking is our responsibility. All have to take such responsibility and will really act how cans one able to contribute in solving the problem, not contributing another problem.
4. Stone of Bravery. Danger is inevitable in solving this problem. It is by God’s protection that we will live and it is in God’s hands that our lives are depending upon. If you will not act then who will? If not now. When? Bravery is confident in God who calls us to save God’s little one.
5. Stone of Prayer and Reiki. The Camp Farthest Out International, Arrow Prayers International, UCC families and Debbie & her family helped us prayed. Through their intercession, God’s mighty works able us to save not two but three children. Thank you so much.


Conclusion

To love God is to give our very selves to God without restriction and without innovation, for God’s works here on earth are works that need our priority, our commitment, out time and our all. Fighting Goliath is God’s mission for us to work, a mission that will test how well we live together in God’s household.

Together we fight, sling the five stones to defeat Goliath.