"Pimp" faces raps for exploiting girls

CEBU, Philippines - A 35-year-old man is facing trafficking charges in court for allegedly recruiting and maintaining girls for sex.

Prosecutor Simaco Labata elevated the case for violation of Republic Act 9208 otherwise known as Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 after finding probable cause and recommended no bail for the accused.

The accused who is a resident of Cogon, Pardo, Cebu City, failed to refute the allegations.

In the joint affidavit, arresting officers stated that sometime on August 2011, the Regional Intelligence Division (RID), Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 and Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (RATTF) team leader Police Sr. Insp. Maria Theresa Macatangay, received information regarding an ongoing illegal recruitment of girls.

The authorities conducted surveillance operations to confirm the information they received from the International Justice Mission (IJM) and identified the persons involved in the said illegal activities.

It was on August 15, 2011 when the confidential agent introduced the police operatives to the accused who allegedly offered girls for sex in the amount of P2,000 each.

Two days after their conversation, the accused called the undercover police officers saying he has “14 girls ready for sex.”

The accused then brought the girls to Banilad, Cebu City. However, police officers did not choose any of the girls as their purpose was only for verification.

The police decided to conduct entrapment operations against the accused.

“A briefing was conducted, it was discussed that PO2 Lyman Norifel Arsua and PO3 Napoleon Talingting Jr will act as poseur customers by transacting with the accused and for the purchase of sexual services of the girls,” affidavit reads.

During the operation, some members of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were present.

At around 9:00 p.m. on August 25, 2011, the undercover policemen met with the accused at a resto bar along V. Rama, Cebu City. The suspect brought along three girls.

The policemen then inquired about the girls’ rates and the accused asked for P3,000. The police tried to have the price lowered to P2,000 but the accused insisted, saying it was a fixed prize.

Talingting then gave the accused marked money worth P3,000 as initial payment to the accused.

Upon receiving the marked money, the police immediately arrested the accused. The three girls were turned over to DSWD after discovering that one of them was a minor.

In their affidavit, the victims stated that they were tasked to entertain the guests of the accused including having sex with them.

They said they started working with the accused last month.  (FREEMAN)