Wife, 2 children rescued from abusive husband

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) rescued Friday a mother and her two daughters who were being maltreated by her husband in Matalam, North Cotabato.

NBI regional director Noel Morales said NBI agents led by Romeo Cotingjo and local social welfare personnel rescued Angeli Perez-Arreola and her two daughters, aged one and two years, at their house in Barangay Sarayan, Matalam.

Morales said the NBI launched the rescue operation after Angeli’s relatives lodged a complaint at the NBI central office in Manila that she and her children were being maltreated by her husband, Lindo Arreola.

Morales said the suspect, once drunk, reportedly beats up Angeli and the children, and had even poked a gun at Angeli, and threatened to stab the children.

Angeli, who hails from Meycauayan, Bulacan, claimed that she began her ordeal with the suspect after she and her husband were married in 2015.

The suspect managed to escape before the authorities arrived in the area.

The NBI has filed a case for violation of Violence Against Women and Children Act against the suspect.

The NBI turned over the victims to the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD regional director Zorayda Taha said the victims will be subjected to profiling and assessment before they will be placed under the care of the Home for the Girls.