KTV operators in Bohol indicted for trafficking

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a KTV bar operator and two others from Bohol for allegedly recruiting minors in Cebu for prostitution.

Assistant city prosecutor Alex Gabud found probable cause to elevate the case in court against the owner of the KTV bar in Ubay Bohol and two bar employees for violation of the Republic Act 9208 or qualified trafficking in persons.

“It appears that the acts committed by the respondents particularly the maintenance and hiring of the girls to engage in prostitution is violative of Section 4 paragraphs (a) and (e),” the resolution reads.

The FREEMAN withheld the names of the accused due to the confidentiality provision of the law. Operatives of the Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (RATF) earlier rescued eight minors working in the KTV bar operated by the accused.

The rescue operation happened in October 21, 2011 after more than one month of surveillance operation. The RATF operatives received information from the International Justice Mission (IJM) about the alleged trafficking for minors from Cebu City to work in KTV bar in Bohol.

After over a month of surveillance, the team led by Sr. Insp. Maria Theresa Macatangay was led to a small bar in Ubay where they found eight minors from Cebu City.

An entrapment operation was hatched resulting in the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of the minors.

The minors were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development while criminal complaints were filed against the suspects before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

The suspects questioned the jurisdiction of the city prosecutor claiming that their operation is in Ubay, Bohol.

However, Gabud said that section 9 of RA 9208 states that, “a criminal action arising from violation of this act shall be filed where the offense was committed, or where any of its elements occurred.”

The prosecutor explained that the minors were recruited in Cebu City. — (FREEMAN)