The Quezon City government's Task Force Sampaguita rounded up 377 mendicants, including 167 children, in a massive city-wide operation Friday night.

Thirty-six areas in the six districts of the city were patrolled by the task force to rescue children from those who have forced them to beg for alms without care for their safety.

Using suasion, the mendicants were enticed by local government workers to come to the Quezon Memorial Circle for processing so they can be given assistance and tested for Covid-19 by health officers.

Members of the Quezon City Police District also did a security check on them. The city social services and public employment offices also took their data for the possible provision of livelihood.

Non-Quezon City residents will be referred and delivered to the local government unit where they live.