Three Filipinos sued for human trafficking in US

MANILA, Philippines – Human trafficking charges have been filed against three Filipinos in Los Angeles, California for illegally bringing job seekers from the Philippines into the United States, a report on abs-cbnnews.com said yesterday.

Rodolfo Demafeliz, 39; his assistant, Rolleta Riazon, 28, and Evelyn Pelayo, 51, are now facing prosecution before the US District Court in Los Angeles after criminal complaints were filed against them by federal agents.

The report of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Pelayo entices job hunters in the Philippines to work in her two elderly care facilities in Long Beach, California.

However, upon their arrival in the US, the victims are then forced to work nearly 24 hours a day to pay for their travel expenses.

“The charges allege that these victims were forced into debt bondage under threat of arrest or deportation, so the defendants could profit. The Human Trafficking Task Force in Los Angeles will continue its efforts to dismantle trafficking organizations,” said Salvador Hernandez, a federal officer based in Los Angeles.

Demafeliz, a taekwondo instructor, was used by Pelayo to bring the recruits to the US by helping them pretend to be students competing in taekwondo tournaments.

US authorities said the six Filipino victims were rescued at the two elderly care facilities owned by Pelayo during the serving of the warrants.

The victims claimed that Pelayo confiscated their passports and threatened to contact police and immigration officials if they tried to escape.

They added that Pelayo also told them to lie about their working hours when asked by social services personnel who supervise the elderly care facilities.

When reached for comment, Esteban Conejos, Department of Foreign Affairs undersecretary for migrant workers’ affairs, said the agency has yet to receive an official report on the human trafficking charges filed against the three Filipinos.

Conejos said the DFA still has to check with US authorities regarding the report. – Reinir Padua