146 KTV bargirls rescued in raid

CEBU, Philippines - One-hundred forty-six girls were rescued from a KTV bar during a raid late Saturday night by the Regional Intelligence Division 7 in coordination with the Regional Anti-Trafficking Force, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the Department of Justice.

The International Justice Mission and the Department of Social Welfare and Development were also part of the said raid.

According to an initial report, the raid was conducted after authorities received a report that some minors were working in the Club Jaguar KTV Bar located in barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City.

Dental aging was conducted among the rescued women and it revealed that 29 of them are possible minors while already one admitted being underage.

It was around midnight when the raiding team served search warrants 1341-04-06-11-11 and 1342-04-06-11-11 issued by Judge Ramon Daomilas of the Regional Trial Court Branch 11.

Three people were arrested, they were identified as Judith Kilaton Amancio, Jocelyn Balili Hinayon and Mary Jane Pon Seno.

The raid ended at 5:30 am.

Cathy Noveda of IJM said their lawyers are now making affidavits as preparation for the cases that they are planning to file in court.

The 146 are currently at the Crisis Intervention Unit of the DSWD-7. -With Mellanie C. Rosales Brenda D. Batuto of Banat News/BRP (FREEMAN)