No bail for woman accused of pimping

CEBU, Philippines - Despite her claim that she did not act as a pimp and prostituted a 13-year-old girl, the City Prosecutor’s Office did not set aside the evidence presented by the complainant against a woman accused of human trafficking.

“The defense raised by respondent which is denial by nature is not only weak but is a matter that has to be threshed out in a full-blown trial and is better appreciated by court of appropriate jurisdiction,” prosecutor Liceria Rabillas said.

Rabillas recommended no bail for the accused for two cases for violation of Republic Act 9208 or Trafficking in Persons Act; Section 4(a) to recruit and transport for the purpose of prostitution and Section 4(e) to hire a person to engage in prostitution.

The complainant said on Dec. 13, she was asked by the accused, who was her neighbor, to accompany her to a mall along Colon St.

However, she said the accused took her near a hotel and tried to entice passing foreigners. Two Americans passed by and offered P300 in exchange for sex but the accused turned them down.

The victim said another foreigner offered P700 for the two of them in exchange for sex. She said they went with the foreigner inside the hotel.

After having sex with the accused, her friend told her to have sex with the American in exchange for P300.

In the counter-affidavit of the accused she admitted she and the victim were with the foreigner on Dec. 13, but denied she and the victim simultaneously had sex with the latter for P700.

The respondent claimed that it was not true that she asked the victim to go with her to the mall in Colon but instead it was the complainant who begged to go with her to the said place because she was bored at home.

The accused went on to say while they were having dinner with the foreigner they left after feeling uncomfortable when the foreigner asked them to become his girlfriends.

She said outside they met policemen who told them to cooperate so they can arrest the foreigner.

Rabillas ruled based on the affidavit of the complainant and of the arresting officers and the physical evidence attached to the records she finds probable cause that the incident complained actually happened. – (FREEMAN)