Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar commended the Muntinlupa Police for helping a mother reunite with her family in Pangasinan after 15 years.
Eleazar issued a statement after the Manila Bulletin published a story on Sept. 20 on how 54-year-old Divina “Nanay Dina” Estrada, who begged money from motorists for survival, was finally able to go home and be with her daughter and grandchild in Lingayen, Pangasinan through the help of the Muntinlupa Police.
“Nakakataba ng puso na nakatulong ang ating kapulisan para makauwi muli itong si Nanay Dina sa kanyang pamilya, lalo na sa panahon na mahirap ang buhay at tila ba walang katiyakan dahil sa banta ng pandemya (It is heartening that our police were able to help so that Nanay Dina could go home to her family especially during the time the life is hard and it seems uncertain because of the threat of the pandemic),” said Eleazar.
He added, “Sana ay tularan ng ibang kapulisan ang ginawang ito ng kanilang mga kabaro (I hope that other police will emulate what their colleagues did),” he added.
The Muntinlupa Police said Estrada was unable to go back to Pangasinan since 2006 and she lived by begging money from motorists and other people.
Lt. Riza Soledad of the Muntinlupa Police said that according to daughter Mejica Estrada, Nanay Dina went to live in Muntinlupa when her partner was incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in 2006 so she could visit him. When her partner died, Estrada decided to settle in Muntinlupa.
Last month, Nanay Dina asked her neighbors in Biazon Road, Brgy. Poblacion, Muntinlupa to find her daughter on Facebook.
They were able to find Mejica, who promised that she would fetch her mother in Muntinlupa after learning about her situation.
Unfortunately, Mejica failed to get her mother when her husband and daughter became ill, and in part due to lockdowns and quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and provinces because of the pandemic.
Mejica sought the help of Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil, who previously served as chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and Pangasinan representative.
Bataoil called Southern Police District Director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg for help. Macaraeg called Muntinlupa Police chief, Col. Melecio Buslig, to find Estrada.
The Muntinlupa police found Estrada begging for help along Daang Hari road in Cavite on Sept. 17.
In the early morning of Sept. 18, the Muntinlupa police took Estrada to Lingayen. There she was reunited with her daughter and grandchild.
Based on rules, Estrada is currently under mandatory quarantine in Lingayen. After she finishes it, she will be finally reunited with her family.
Bataoil thanked the SPD, Macaraeg and Muntinlupa police for helping Estrada.