Trafficking filed against bar manager

CEBU, Philippines - For hiring minor girls, a manager of a bar along Sanciangko St., Barangay Kalubihan, Cebu City, is now facing charges for human trafficking.

Last Monday, the Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Force-7 filed the criminal complaint for human trafficking against the manager of The Boss Bikini and Disco Bar before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutor Rodulph Carillo gave the manager seven days to file his counter-affidavit to answer the allegations filed against him.

Based on the complaint there were four minors found among the 17 victims rescued during the raid last week.

Eight of the 17 women executed an affidavit against the manager of the said bar.

Under the law the names of the respondent and the victims cannot be divulged for protection purposes.

The raid was conducted last Thursday around 11 p.m. headed by Chief Insp. Maria Theresa Macatangay of the RATTF-7 together with other representatives from the International Justice Mission and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The victims are now under the custody of the DSWD.

Macatangay said they placed the bar under surveillance for three weeks before they conducted their operation.

Based on reports the manager admitted managing the bar but denied having minors working there.—(FREEMAN)