Minors rescued from ‘pimp’

CEBU, Philippines – Police rescued two minor siblings and arrested a Danish national and a suspected pimp in an anti-human trafficking operation yesterday dawn in Sitio Mansanitas, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City.

Those nabbed were Danish national Nicola Jacobsen, 54, and Alona Tortosa, 34, resident of Sitio Orel, Barangay, Mandaue City.

The Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and the Women's Desk of Mandaue City Police Office carried out the operation at Jacobsen's house.

Both suspects were brought to MCPO for detention.

Police said Tortosa allegedly recruited and fetched the siblings, who were girls aged 11 and 12, from their house in Sitio Orel to a place in Tisa, to be introduced to a certain foreigner named Nick.

When the parents came to look for the children, a 12-year-old neighbor, who was also allegedly pimped earlier by Tortosa to Jacobsen, informed the police of their whereabouts.

At around 2:30 a.m., the joint team then conducted the operation at the rented house of the suspects in Barangay Tisa where the 12-year-old neighbor positively identified the suspects.

Police said they also saw the minors sniffing an elastomeric sealant.

Police immediately arrested Jacobsen and Tortosa and also took custody of the two minor siblings. They were able to seize from the suspects four pieces of sealant, a cellular phone and some SIM packs and micro SD cards.

Both suspects are now detained at Subangdaku Police Station pending the filing of cases for violation of Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.