Four charged for exploiting minors

CEBU, Philippines - A case for human trafficking against four people was filed before the court after Cebu City Prosecutor Nicholas Sellon approved the report of Prosecutor Maria Luisa Ratilla reversing the earlier decision dismissing the complaint for lack of evidence.

Ratilla said the accused connived and with deliberate intent recruited a minor from Butuan City for prostitution and sexual exploitation.

The victim was recruited four years ago by a certain Chay-chay to work in Cebu to earn lots of money by meeting handsome foreigners. The minor hoped for a better life in Cebu so she can support her six siblings.

The victim said she lived with other girls in the house of one of the accused in barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City wherein they were made to work as prostitutes.

The victim said she earned P150 from every customer who had sex with her. But instead of being given cash, the accused gave her and the other girls purchase cards (POs).

She said they were forced by the accused to get more clients in barangay Kamagayan but were not given food. Unable to bear her miserable life, she ran away on September 2007.

Of the four accused, only two submitted their counter affidavits. They denied the accusations against them and stressed they are not involved in any illegality.

Cebu City Prosecutor Eulogio Borres Jr., who first handled the complaint, resolved to dismiss the complaint for lack of evidence.

But Ratilla said that after going through the records of the case, she found there was enough evidence to justify a finding of probable cause against the four accused.

“Complainant, in her accusatory statements, named each of the accused according to their exploitative acts through force, threat and abuse of complainant’s vulnerability being a minor, by forcing her to be taken by male customers for sex, money, which is considered a highly reprehensible offense proscribed as RA 9208 or human trafficking,” Ratilla ruled.

Ratilla recommended no bail bond for the four accused. -  (FREEMAN)