The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in Jaro, Iloilo City, has clarified that the teenager seen in a viral social media post is not a member of the Badjao community, but is in fact a Child at Risk (CAR) who has been pretending to belong to the indigenous group.
According to CSWDO-Jaro Social Welfare Officer III, Ms. Flora May Navarro, the 15-year-old boy is a resident of Barangay Sooc, Arevalo, and has been separated from regular parental care. His mother works as a pedicab driver in Molo while his father is currently incarcerated. The boy has reportedly been under the care of his grandmother, though he has not returned home for several months.
The child has been seen associating with street children and members of the roaming Ati community, often engaging in risky behavior, including joining groups involved in solvent use.
The companion seen with him in the viral video has since returned to Roxas City, leaving the boy behind in Iloilo. With the help of the Iloilo City Task Force Badjao, authorities were able to locate the boy and bring him to safety.
He has since been turned over to the CSWDO-Arevalo office, which will now work on his rehabilitation and reintegration into formal education and a safer environment.
Authorities remind the public to be cautious in spreading unverified information online and to approach such cases with sensitivity, especially when minors and vulnerable communities are involved
Reported by: Bombo Lyka Sandiego Via Bombohanay Sa Udto
