Qualified trafficking case filed

CEBU, Philippines - The City Prosecutor’s Office recommended no bail for a 41-year-old woman and her 22-year-old daughter for transporting 15 girls from the Province of Bohol to Pampanga.

Prosecutor Joseph Val Carillo indicted the mother and her daughter for qualified trafficking before the Regional Trial Court after they failed to refute the allegations filed against them.

The two accused will be detained at the Cebu City jail.

In a resolution penned by Carillo and approved by City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon, probable cause was found to elevate the complaint to the court.

“There is sufficient evidence that respondents conspired and connived in recruiting the 15 girls to work in an internet to engage in cyber sex. The statements of the witnesses taken all together establish that they were recruited for purposes of prostitution, pornography or sexual exploitation,” Carillo ruled.

It was on August 8, 2011 when the case was filed against the two accused, from Area 9-B Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

The accused were arrested at the Supercat Terminal, Pier 4, Cebu City on August 5, 2011 for transporting 15 girls for employment to Pampanga.

Carrillo, in the inquest proceedings with the victims on August 8, who are all from Getafe, Bohol they claimed their parents were paid P1,000 to P1,500 by the accused.

The victims said they were briefed by the accused on what to do when they get to Pampanga. Some victims said they were told they will be working in an internet café and if there will be a foreigner who will tell them to undress in front of the camera, then they will perform. Others were told they would work as house helpers.

The accused, in an earlier interview, denied the allegations of human trafficking. They said they were only bringing the girls to work as helpers.

Prosecutor Carillo said that based on the evidence and testimony of the victims, there is probable cause to believe that they committed a violation by giving money to the parents of the victims for their consent to allow the minors to work in Pampanga. (FREEMAN)