Maritime police rescue 5 at pier

CEBU, Philippines - Following Friday’s successful rescue of 15 girls, the 701st Cebu Maritime Police Station again scored in the battle against human trafficking.

Another five alleged victims of human trafficking were rescued yesterday afternoon at pier 4 following a tip from port security personnel.

The maritime police rescued two males, and three females who just arrived from Toledo City en route to Manila.

The group, with their male recruiter from Barangay Kabituonan, Toledo City took a V-hire at around 10 a.m. and arrived at the Citylink terminal at around 12 p.m.

Instead of escorting the five, the recruiter told the group that he will travel separately as he was taking a plane to Manila, which left at 1 p.m.

Shortly after their arrival at the bus terminal, the recruiter gave their tickets for Manila and instructed the five to take a taxi to pier 4 where their ship was scheduled to leave at 2:15 p.m.

When the group finally arrived at pier 4, the group was not allowed to board the ship by security personnel after failing to present a clearance for the Department of Labor and Employment or authorization from their parents.   

The security personnel immediately asked the Maritime Police for assistance.

One of the males was already 23 years old while the other was 15. The ages of the three females range from 16 to 18 years old.

According to the five, the recruiter promised them work in restaurants and houses in Metro Manila.

The five allegedly met their recruiter in a bar at Toledo City after seeing him several times at the said place during their usual late night party gigs.

They were promised a monthly salary of P3,000 each.

“Ang (recruiter) iyang gisulti nga sa restaurant ra among trabaho,” one of the girls told The FREEMAN.

The oldest male said that he met recruiter on Friday of last week while they were having fun at a bar at Toledo Town.

The two males, who are close friends, later decided to heed to the recruiters proposal and confirmed.

Though the five arrived in Cebu City together, the two males were allegedly recruited separately from the three females.

The group was later turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development late last night.

The International Justice Mission also has started drafting the affidavits of the five victims, which will be used against the recruiter. 

The Cebu Provincial Government has also sent their personnel to check on the five.

Earlier Case

“I did not expect this will happen.”

This was the statement of the 41-year-old woman arrested together with her daughter by the Maritime Police on Friday for alleged human trafficking.

They were transporting 15 girls from Bohol to Pampanga for employment, but were apprehended at around 6 p.m. at the Supercat Terminal, Pier 4, Cebu City.

The 41-year-old and her 22-year-old daughter from Area 9-B Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora face charges of violation of Republic Act 9208 otherwise known as anti-human trafficking act before the City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.

During the inquest proceedings made by prosecutor Rodulph Joseph Carillo, they denied the accusations.

The respondents filed a waiver of detention and will answer the allegations within seven days.

Carillo said he gave respondents seven days to file their counter-affidavit and he has seven days to resolve the complaint filed by Police Senior Inspector Joselito Oblazo of Regional Maritime Office-7 Pier 6, Port Area, Cebu City.

Carillo said during the inquest of the victims, who are all from Getafe, Bohol, at the Women’s Children’s Waiting Area in Prosecutor’s Office they claimed their parents were paid P1,000 to P1,500 by the respondents.

He added the victim’s said they were briefed by the respondents of what to do when they will arrive in Pampanga.

“There were at least four minors said they were briefed by the respondents that whatever the foreigner told them they will obey,” he said.

He added some victims rescued said they were told they will be working in the Internet Café and if there will be a foreigner who will tell them to undress in front of the camera then they will perform and the other will be house helpers.

However, in an interview with the media, the respondents said she was supposedly to bring only six girls from Bohol to Manila as house helpers.

The 41-year-old added the other nine girls only joined them as they wanted to look for jobs in Manila.

“All 15 girls have verbal consent from their parents to work in Manila as house helpers and the other nine girls it’s their relatives who will meet them when we will arrived in Manila,” she said.

She added “in fact their parents gave them money for fare going to Manila.”

The 41-year-old during the inquest asked Carillo not to include her daughter in the complaint as her daughter doesn’t know the incident, but Carillo replied it cannot be as the complainant includes her.

Carillo said “all you have to do is to find a lawyer and let your lawyer defend you.”

Commendation

The Provincial Board members passed a resolution commending the 701st Maritime Police Station for the “timely rescue” of the 15 minors from Bohol and the arrest of the suspects.

In yesterday’s weekly PB session, the board members also commended in their resolution the Aboitiz Transport System Corporation (ATSC) for the said accomplishment.

“Whereas, the pro-active joint efforts of the ATSC personnel and the PNP (Philippine National Police) Maritime Group have proved once and for all that any crime can be effectively prevented in vigilance and an honest-to-goodness performance of official or civic duties,” the resolution read.

The 13 members present yesterday duly second in mass the said motion raised by PB Julian Daan who presided the session in Vice-governor Agnes Magpale’s absence. — with Niña G. Sumacot/NLQ   - (THE FREEMAN)