20 minors rescued from Batangas sugarcane farm

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines- – Twenty teenagers working at a sugarcane plantation in Balayan, Batangas were rescued by authorities over the weekend, police reported yesterday.

The minors, whose age ranged from 14 to 17, were reportedly recruited by Medwin Alaras, 40, and Laura Orongan, to work in a farm in Barangay Pooc, said Senior Inspector Ronnie Golfo, town police chief.

The police officers, however, failed to arrest Alaras and Oringan as they were not in the area during the raid.

The minors were turned over to the custody of the Region 4A social welfare office.

Personnel of the regional social welfare office sought police help after they received information that several minors were working as sugarcane cutters in Barangay Pooc.

Members of the Regional Intelligence Division 4A and the Balayan police raided the farm at around 8:30 p.m. Friday.