Man charged for human trafficking

 CEBU, Philippines - For waiving his right to avail of preliminary investigation to answer the allegations filed against him, the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a 32-year-old man for human trafficking.

State Prosecutor Noel Cellona recommended no bail against the accused for allegedly providing a 14-year-old girl to a customer for sex in exchange for money.

Cellona added the accomplice of the accused —his live-in partner, who is still at large— will be prosecuted as soon as procedural requirements are complied.

In a sworn statement, the victim, a resident of Alaska, Mambaling, Cebu City, she said last July 22, 2012 at 8 p.m. she was called by their neighbor who is the live-in partner of the accused.

She said she was told by the latter that a trustee of a lawyer wanted to see her.  Because of her trust in the woman, she went along.

The victim said meters away from the house of her friend, she saw a man to which their neighbor referred.  She said he told her his boss wanted to talk to her at his house in a subdivision in a neighboring barangay.

She said she went to the place together with the man, the accused and the woman on board a jeepney.

Upon arrival in the subdivision, the victim said the accused left them and his live-in partner only waited for them at the subdivision gate.  The victim and the man went inside.

She said while walking to the house of the lawyer she told the man that she wanted to go home but the latter refused saying they were near in the house.

When she again told the man that she wanted to go home the latter held a knife against her neck and dragged her to a dark area of the subdivision.

It was there he allegedly raped her.

She said she was able to ask for help when a security guard of the subdivision passed by the area.

The victim said she reported the incident to the Pardo Police Station.

Policemen were able to arrest the accused in a hot pursuit operation but his live-in partner is still at large.   (FREEMAN)