15 trafficking victims rescued in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Authorities in Cebu have scored another success in their fight against human trafficking.

This, after a group of at least 15 girls traveling from Bohol to Manila was intercepted by the maritime police upon arrival at the Cebu City port Friday night.

Members of the 701st Cebu Maritime Police Station also arrested a 41-year-old woman and her 22-year-old daughter, said to be the recruiters of the girls aged 14 to 17.

Senior Inspector Joselito Oñez Blazo, Cebu Maritime Police officer-in-charge, told The Freeman that they got a tip from a guard at Pier 3 about a suspicious group of travelers disembarking from a fastcraft from Tagbilaran City.

Blazo and his men, after verifying the report, took the girls and held the woman and her daughter.

Based on the travel tickets recovered, the alleged recruiters spent over P20,000 for the group’s ship fare from Tagbilaran City to Manila. Mother and daughter alleged they were only accompanying the girls to Manila where they could find jobs.

Jaybee Binghay, spokesperson of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 7, said lawyers from the International Justice Mission would assist them in drafting the girls’ affidavits, which would be used against the two recruiters.

Charges of violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 will be filed against the alleged recruiters with the Cebu City prosecutor’s office today.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia hailed the rescue of the 15 girls, saying the campaign against human trafficking is no longer the work of a particular agency but “a concerted and collaborative effort of all sectors in the Cebuano community.” – With Gregg Rubio/Freeman News Service