DSWD 7 probes orphan center

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 has called the attention of an orphanage in Cebu City over allegations that children under their care were subjected to physical abuse.

The DSWD 7 ordered the pullout of the 11 children at the facility pending investigation of the complaints.

Josephine Belotindos, DSWD 7 Institutional Development Division chief, told Sun.Star Cebu that the facility had 17 children under their care. However, six of them reportedly escaped from the facility for unknown reasons.

According to the complaints that reached the DSWD 7, the children allegedly suffered physical abuse from the orphanage’s personnel.

Belotindos explained that she cannot yet name the facility until the investigation is over.

She said that the orphanage, which is reportedly managed by a foreign non-government organization (NGO), is a residential facility registered under the DSWD 7. She said that the facility has been operating for 30 years.

Evidence

For now, Belotindos said that the DSWD 7 field office review committee is still gathering evidence to verify the allegation.

If the group is found guilty, the accreditation of the facility may be revoked. A closure order of the facility may be also issued.

She said that the 11 children are now under the DSWD 7’s custody.

She urged accredited residential facility operators to observe DSWD Administrative Order 16, Series of 2008.

The order provides for the rules and regulations on the registration and licensing of Social Welfare and Development Agencies and accreditation of social welfare and development programs and services.

As of this year, there are 130 NGOs registered under DSWD 7, 41 of which are residential facilities.

Early this week, an American and his Filipina-American wife were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation 7 after they were found allegedly operating an orphanage in Bohol without any accreditation from the DSWD.

The NBI 7 operatives rescued 38 kids from the facility.