Court convicts woman for ‘selling’ girls for sex

CEBU, Philippines - The court has convicted a woman accused of selling girls for sex in Cebu City while another woman in Lapu-Lapu City fell to authorities three years after being charged with a trafficking case.

The Regional Trial Court has convicted Remife Baliwag alias “Ippay”  for qualified trafficking and been sentenced to suffer life imprisonment and pay a fine of P2 million.

Likewise, Baliwag was ordered to pay each victim P100,000 in moral and exemplary damages.

Baliwag, an alleged street pimp, was arrested on October 22, 2007 during a joint operation of the National Bureau of Investigation-7, Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 with the support of the International Justice Mission.

The NBI also rescued two minor girls, ages 15 and 16.

Following the arrest, the NBI filed the complaint before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office against Baliwag for a violation of Republic Act 9208 otherwise known as Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. 

Finding probable cause, the prosecutor indicted Baliwag before the court.

During arraignment, Baliwag denied the allegations filed against her.

However, the court ruled that prosecution witnesses, which included the minor girls, NBI agents Reynaldo Villordon Jr. and Florante Gaoiran, forensic chemist Rommel Paglinawan and DSWD social worker Jennifer Abastillas, were able to prove the guilt of Baliwag beyond reasonable doubt.

In Lapu-Lapu City, meanwhile, a 38-year-old woman reportedly involved in a trafficking case in 2012 was arrested in Sitio Marbeach, Barangay Marigondon yesterday afternoon.

Police served an arrest warrant to Rosalie Brown at around 4:20 p.m., said Senior Police Officer 3 Nonilon Estonilo, Jr. of Marigondon Police Station.

The arrest warrant, with no bail recommended, was issued last October 3, 2012 by Hon. Teresita Abraquez Galanida, presiding judge of the 7th Judicial Region in Mandaue City Court Branch 57.

Estonilo told The FREEMAN that Brown’s victims were mostly minors and legal-aged women from the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

“Iyahang target ana kay mga bata ug mga babaye nga mag-edad og 18 anyos pataas within Lapu-Lapu ug Mandaue,” he said.

During Brown’s arrest, Estonilo said, the suspect reportedly attempted to give P50,000 to arresting officers in exchange for her freedom, but her offer was declined.

Estonilo said Brown has been under police surveillance for one year.

“One year namo siyang gipanid-an, idlas kaayo ni siya kay mohawa dayon sa area nga iyahang tambayan,” he said.

Brown was separated from her first foreigner husband and is currently living with her partner named a certain “Armand.”

“Dugay na na siya dinhi sa siyudad kay tig-ulian na siya sa iyahang live-in partner (Armand) nga taga Sitio Marbeach, pero mouli sad na siya sa Cordova,” Estonilo said.

Brown may have relatives living in Cordova, according to police.  The FREEMAN chanced upon Armand at the Marigondon Police Station, but he refused to grant interview, only saying he did not know of Brown’s situation.

Brown, for her part, also declined to answer questions but said she is trying to contact her husband named “David.” —(FREEMAN)