On December 5, Ms. Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy - Member of the Standing Committee of the Association for Supporting Poor Patients in Duong Dong Ward, Phu Quoc City (Kien Giang) - said that she and the authorities had just gone to Ho Quoc Pagoda to investigate and verify the case of two children suspected of being abandoned.
Through working with the People's Committee of Duong To commune, Ms. L.T.H (living in An Thoi ward) admitted to being the grandmother of the two children. Ms. H said that because of the difficult family circumstances, the income only depended on her husband working for hire. Ms. H's daughter has 4 children, the 2 children abandoned in front of the pagoda area are her grandchildren.
Mrs. H said that when she left her children in the temple area, she also wanted the monks to see, take care of and raise them better. She still stayed nearby to watch the two children and did not leave.
Through that, Duong To Commune People's Committee also initially worked with Ms. H about the above incident. Ms. H also signed a commitment, wishing to temporarily leave the two children at Ho Quoc Pagoda for a short time to take care of them.
The locality is also continuing to work with relevant parties to find appropriate solutions.
Ms. Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy added that today, the medical department also came to check the health of the two children.
“Many people are concerned about this incident, so they have texted and called me to send their regards to the two children. Currently, the two children are healthy, and the older boy is playing normally with everyone. The children are being well cared for at the temple and the authorities are working on a plan to best serve the two children,” Ms. Thuy shared.
Previously, on the evening of December 4, speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Vo Tan Duc - a tour guide in Phu Quoc City - said that he and his group of guests discovered two children.
According to Mr. Duc, at around 5:00 p.m. the same day, he took a group of tourists to visit and burn incense at Truc Lam Zen Monastery, Ho Quoc Pagoda in Duong To Commune. At this time, the tourists heard the crying of children nearby, so they called Mr. Duc to come and see. When they discovered the two children, their basket only contained diapers, clothes, and milk bottles, but no documents or information.
Afterwards, the tourist and Mr. Duc carried the two children to the pagoda. The monks at Truc Lam Zen Monastery, Ho Quoc Pagoda, provided initial health care and temporarily took care of the two children while waiting for the authorities to handle the situation.
