3 minors, 13 others rescued from flesh trade

MALOLOS CITY – At least 16 women, including three minors, were rescued by the Bulacan police from two prostitution syndicates in separate operations last Saturday.

In a report, Senior Superintendent Allen Bantolo, acting Bulacan police director, said six suspects were arrested, four of whom – identified as Charlotte Santarina, Benjamin Estrella, Josephine Ocampo-Muli and Chai Gabon – allegedly worked for one of the syndicates that purportedly has connections in Singapore and Malaysia.

Eleven of the 16 victims were rescued from a two-bedroom apartment owned by a certain Eddie de Guzman in Sitio Anibong, Barangay Dakila this city.

The two other suspects – Patricia Pinote and her younger sister, Evangeline Pangilinan, of Barangay Bangkal this city – were collared after a police team rescued five women, including the three minors, in San Fernando, La Union where they had been sent to work in a videoke bar.

Bantolo told The STAR that a victim, in a complaint filed against Santarina and her cohorts three weeks ago, said she was sent to a nightclub in Singapore to work as an entertainer but was forced to have sex with their clients. 

“It’s a very sensitive case and we need to know the extent of their modus operandi,” Bantolo said.

The police raid, though, came a day late, as the suspects were able to send 10 women to Singapore last Friday.  – With Ric Sapnu