Three persons were arrested by Manila Police District (MPD) operatives and the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) Rescue Team for selling solvent to children in Tondo, Manila, on Wednesday, Oct. 8, MDSW Director Jay Dela Fuente said.
According to Dela Fuente, a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish Church in Gagalangin, Tondo, reported spotting minors using solvent inside the church.
This prompted the MDSW Rescue Team to proceed to the church and take the kids, one from Manila and two from Caloocan, and place them under their custody.
The children were brought to the Reception Action Center (RAC).
When interviewed by social workers, the children said they bought the solvent from the suspects on Asuncion Street and Recto Avenue.
The authorities conducted a follow-up operation in the area which led to the arrest of three suspects identified as alias Reynalyn, alias Jonalyn, and alias Aries, all residents of Baseco Compound.
The three yielded 10 liters of solvent and a sachet of shabu.
Dela Fuente said the suspects were detained at the MPD Station 2 for further investigation.
The MDSW also rescued four other individuals during the operation, including three minors. They were also brought to the RAC for intervention. (Patrick Garcia)
