Iloilo City task force says Badjao presence down 85%

By John Laurence Longanilla, Daily Guardian Intern

The Iloilo City Task Force Badjao reported an 85% reduction in the presence of mendicants identified as Badjao, following sustained operations to keep them out of the city center.

Task force head Hector Alejano said most Badjao are now concentrated in border towns, entering the city only when they believe enforcement has eased.

He said some groups remain on the city’s outskirts, waiting for an opportunity to return.

Alejano noted there is coordination among these groups as they navigate the task force’s deterrent measures.

“They use ‘intelligence’ to gauge when they can safely enter the city,” he said.

One strategy, Alejano said, is to temporarily separate children from their parents and turn them over to the City Social Welfare and Development Office, with the promise of returning them once the families commit to leaving the city.

“It worked in some cases, as the parents agreed not to come back in exchange for the return of their children,” he said.

Alejano emphasized there is no syndicate behind the begging operations in Iloilo City.

“We had the National Bureau of Investigation look into it, and they found no evidence of any syndicates orchestrating this. It’s a decentralized issue,” he said.

With the holiday season approaching, Alejano said the task force anticipates a surge in mendicancy, traditionally linked to increased begging during Christmas.

He said they are preparing to ramp up efforts and coordinate with other agencies to prevent disruptions.

“We are doing everything we can to control the situation. But this issue is complex, and it will take more than just enforcement to resolve it,” he said.

Alejano clarified that a recent disturbance at a local restaurant was not caused by the Badjao community but by local “rugby boys” who disguise themselves as Badjao to solicit alms.

CCTV footage confirmed their identities, he said.

The task force rescued one of the minors involved in the incident in the Jaro district on Aug. 11.