No bail for three “pimps”; Aussie, cab driver charged with trafficking
CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office recommended no bail against three suspected pimps caught during an entrapment operation for selling the sexual services of five commercial sex workers.
State Prosecutor Ernesto Narido, Jr. has indicted Tara Dacayana, 29, resident of Katipunan St., Labangon, Cebu City; Rico Lauron of Liburon, Carcar City; and Mary Grace, 20, resident of Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
The prosecutor’s office found probable cause to hold them in trial after they opted not to avail of a preliminary investigation. Narido on the other hand dismissed the criminal complaint for prostitution filed against the five commercial sex workers. The prosecutor’s office ruled that the commercial sex workers should not be treated as criminals but victims.
“As for the rest of women who are charged as prostitutes, it is enough that under Republic Act 9208 or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act they are considered as victims and as such they shall not be penalized for crimes directly related to the acts of trafficking,†the resolution reads.
On July 9, 2013, at about 11 p.m. operatives of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) conducted an entrapment operation along Juana Osmeña Street in Barangay Capitol Site after receiving information about the presence of several women engage in prostitution.
Police Chief Inspector Aileen Recla led the entrapment operation resulting in the arrest of the suspects and the prostitutes.
One of the police operatives went undercover by pretending to be a customer wanting to avail of the sexual services. The police paid P1,000 to one of the pimps.
Meanwhile, an Australian national is facing criminal complaint for human trafficking and child abuse before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Hilton Reece Munro, 45, resident of Shepherd St., Hongkong, and taxi driver Gilbert Andrada, 41, resident of Cebu City were arrested last Friday in the company of five minors in Compostela, Cebu.
The suspects signed a waiver of detention and were given 15 days to submit their counter-affidavit.
The respondents were arrested last Friday night at a resort in Compostela. They were in the company of five boys ages 10 to 13. Munro reportedly used a 14-year-old boy to recruit minors to pose naked in front of the camera.
The taxi driver was included in the complaint for conniving with Munro. (FREEMAN)
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