Task group formed to probe missing children

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) created Task Group Sagip Anghel to look into the increasing cases of missing children in Metro Manila.

The team is composed of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). It will look into and solve these incidents.

Chief Superintendent Chris Laxa, deputy for operations of the NCRPO, will head the task group.

NCRPO spokesperson Chief Inspector Kimberly Molitas said the task group will specifically focus on the cases of four missing children in Metro Manila:

• Dayne Buenaflor, 3, in Taguig City 
• James Naraga, 2, in Taguig City
• Jael Flores, 4, in Paranaque City
• John Gabriel Calimag, 3, in Quezon City.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said they have yet to determine if there was a syndicate involved in the recent cases of missing children.

“The objectives of the task group is to focus its efforts on the current cases related to Paranaque, Taguig and Quezon City,” Molitas tod reporters on Wednesday.

NCRPO has already recorded 40 cases of missing children from January 2012 to present. Out of this number,  36 were considered solved. Many of these cases were children who left home due to problems with the parents or relatives. – Rappler.com

(Old worn teddy bear lost on the street image via Shutterstock)