A Filipino expat based in Ajman seeks the assistance of Philippine authorities to track and find a former Filipina expat in the UAE who fled the country and left her daughter in 2018.
Dubai Social Welfare Attache Judith Bacwaden explained to Zuhra Unas, the guardian of the 8-year-old kid, that the DSWD attempted to locate the mother of the 8-year-old kid last October 9, 2019 at Brgy 27 of Caloocan City. Documents revealed that the mother left the UAE last October 2018 during the UAE’s amnesty period.
“Binigyan natin ng chance (yung nanay) e wala na tayong option but to air her on radio and tv para she will report to DSWD at ma-interview doon at malaman ng DSWD kung ano bang plano niya sa anak niya,” said Bacwaden during an online discussion held together with Atty. Glenn Chong, Melvin Obinala of Saudi Arabia and King Belimac of the OFW Helpline.
Bacwaden explained to Unas on the pertinent details of the Philippines’ domestic adoption law that she can only adopt Mutya if no blood relative wishes to take care of the 8-year-old.
“Not until wala talagang nanay, magulang, relatives na kukuha sa bata and then that’s the time na i-co-consider yung unrelated na tao na mag-a-adopt sa bata. So kailangan din isapuso na if ever na hindi sa inyo mapunta yung bata, naka-ready ka din. Kasi di natin masabi syempre bahala na ang Diyos dyan kung kanino talaga ang bata,” said Bacwaden.
Unas hopes that the mother will soon cooperate and report to DSWD so that they could begin the process for the adoption of the child that she has cared for almost nine years.
“Yun lang po ang hinihingi ko po na mapasaakin din (ang bata). Kasi higit pa sa anak ko (ang turing ko) – ako na ang nagpalaki sa kanya. Sana po sa 9 years na pagkupkop ko sa kanya, sana po mapunta din sa akin,” said Zuhra.
Bacwaden then issued an official statement for the mother to make a formal appearance to the DSWD-NCR at Sampaloc to let officials know of her plans for Mutya and, should she decide not to take care of Mutya, to initiate the adoption process by taking her DNA sample and sending it back to the UAE. Below is Bacwaden’s statement:
“On behalf of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, kami po ay nananawawgan sa inyo, ang nanay ng batang naiwan dito sa UAE ang binigay po ninyong address ay Brgy. 27 of Caloocan City doon sa National Capital Region. Kayo po at kami rin at itong mga concerned citizens, individuals na nagmamahal sa anak mong iniwan mo dito sa UAE ay nagtutulung-tulungan para hanapin ka.
“Pumunta din ang Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region sa address na binigay mo. On air ka sa PTV 4 ng October 9, 2019 sa PTV 4 but despite all these efforts, hindi po kayo nagpakita sa DSWD. Siguro sa ngayon, para sa ikabubuti ng anak ninyong si Mutya, wala na kaming ibang choice kung di i-on air ka namin.
“DSWD tried its best to treat the matter in confidence pero wala na kaming ibang option kung di mag social media para kayo po ay magpakita sa DSWD doon sa NCR. Magpa-interview po kayo doon kung ano po ang inyong plano sa bata. Kailangan ka namin kasi kailangan kang mapa-DNA (test). Tutulungan ka naman ng DSWD at consular office sa NCR kung paano ito isagawa para maipadala yung DNA sample mo ma-match kay Mutya. At kung mag-match iyon at mapatunayan na Pilipino itong bata at ikaw ang nanay, pwede nang ma-proseso ng Philippine Consulate ang exit pass at makakauwi na itong bata,” said Bacwaden.
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