Woman indicted for “trafficking”

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor has indicted a woman who is facing complaints for helping recruit girls for prostitution and sexual exploitation.

Prosecutor II Aurora Peñaflor held Cheryl Toreon for trial for violation of the anti-trafficking in persons act after finding probable cause. Tereon failed to submit her counter-affidavit and other controverting evidence despite being summoned.

“A subpoena was personally served to respondent in their known address but the same was returned with the process servers notation that the subject could not be located at the said place and even with the assistance of their personnel of the barangay hall of the area, the respondent cannot still be located. Hence, this case is resolved ex-parte on the basis of the evidence presented,” the resolution reads.

Peñaflor recommended no bail for Tereon’s temporary liberty.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by barangay captain Virgilio Cabarles Misa of Malbago, Daanbantayan, Cebu and members of the Barangay Intelligence Network Danilo Villegas and Luciano Manilano against Toreon and American national Joseph Christian Bogo. Bogo is currently facing charges before the court.

In their complaint, they alleged that on January 27, 2011 at around 10 a.m., a man reported at the barangay hall that there were children wrestling while naked and were being videotaped by a foreigner at Sitio Looc, Malbago.

Misa instructed his men to verify the report.

“The two BIN members who are as well affiants in this case proceeded to the area and saw four pitched tents,” he said, adding they were shocked upon checking one of the tents and saw an almost naked foreigner while his genitals was being massaged by four girls.

The BIN members confiscated the video and turned it over to the police station. The video allegedly contained scenes of girls wrestling and pretending to fight while their breasts exposed.

The 17-year-old minor corroborated the statements of the complainants. She alleged she knew Bogo because the latter was the fiancé of her cousin and stayed in their rented house.

The minor admitted that she engaged in a “catfight” with another girl wearing a two-piece while being taped. She disclosed that the loser got P1,500 while the winner of the fight got a higher price.

A 14-year-old girl said Toreon recruited them for a catfight.

Peñaflor summoned Toreon to file a counter-affidavit but the latter failed thus the recommendation for the filing of the case, which was approved by the city prosecutor.  (FREEMAN)