Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has recently called upon the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the possibility of a syndicate organizing Badjaos, commonly referred to as ‘sea gypsies’ and often seen begging at local transport terminals.
According to Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head Jeck Conlu, they have been able to trace the origins of local Badjaos to areas such as Zamboanga and Jolo after reviewing remittance records.
Last December, amid a Bacolod City Police Office and Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) operation to rescue Badjaos, the DSSD Anti-Mendicancy Task Force revealed during a radio interview that one such individual had remitted a total of P38,000 from Bacolod City to Mindanao.
According to task force coordinator Ma. Socorro Detangco, two receipts were found from one of the rescued Badjaos; each revealed local money transfers to Mindanao with the first showing P17,000 remitted and another P21,000 sent.
Meanwhile, Conlu noted, as per their most recent inventory, there are around 89 Badjaos across Iloilo City.
He added, the mayor has since issued orders to have them sent back to their place of origin./WDJ