NBI busts ‘school for beggars’

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have busted a school that allegedly teaches students to beg for food and money in exchange for free education.

NBI Regional Director Elfren Meneses Jr., of the Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division (AFCCD), said they filed charges of child exploitation and illegal operation of a school against five officials of the Montessori College of Charity (EMCC), including its founder Henry Feratero and his wife Jenny.

Also apprehended during the raid on the school located on Burgos street, Montalban, Rizal province were Hilda Feratero-Dinglasan, Sofronia Biag and Rene Leonardo.

AFCCD case officer Special Investigator Waldo Palattao Jr. said the school had just transferred to Rizal and was allegedly recruiting college applicants, offering courses such as nursing, hotel restaurant management, information technology and business management.

Of the 48 enrollees, 29 were stay-in students. Their ages range between 14 and 20 years old.

Last Aug. 30, NBI agents assisted by the Montalban municipal police raided the school and rescued 28 minors.

Inside a three-story building, agents found the students cramped together in one room. They also discovered 100 empty tin cans, which the students use for begging.

Feratero said the construction of the new school was still ongoing. The NBI said the school had only one room, 20 chairs, and one busted computer to accommodate the 48 students.

Palattao said the syndicate had been exposing the teenagers to mendicancy. "They are engaged in fund-raising activities. They would go to the market and beg for vegetables and food."

Upon admission to the school, officials would provide students with tin cans labeled "Support Our Children Programs... Sa Baryang Ibinigay Mo, Karugtong ng Buhay."

They are then told to ask for donations at malls, universities and other places where people congregate. They are told to stay at these designated areas for 12 hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and remit their earnings to the EMCC founder.

Palattao said the students are compelled to dedicate four days of the week to "fund-raising." The rest of the week they attend classes.

AFCCD executive officer Palmer Mallari said an institution first needs to secure licenses from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) if they want to solicit donations.

The DSWD, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) denied the owner’s claim that the school had been given a license to operate.