41 women rescued, five men arrested

CEBU, Philippines —  The National Bureau of Investigation-Cebu District Office (NBI-CEBDO) rescued 41 young women, including 10 minors, and arrested five men in two separate operations involving alleged sex trafficking in Lapu-Lapu City on October 10.

Of the rescued women, 15, including nine minors, were found at a hotel in Punta Engaño, while 26, including one minor, were rescued at a private villa in Barangay Pajac.

The NBI-CEBDO identified the suspects as “Meccy,” who was arrested in Punta Engaño, and “Boyet,” “Jake,” “G-Boy” and “Dodoy,” who were arrested in Pajac.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, October 14, the NBI-CEBDO said it received information that young women, including minors, were allegedly being offered for paid sex through an online page.

Surveillance operations reportedly showed that “Boyet” and “Meccy” had offered young women to an NBI undercover operative posing as a customer.

This prompted the agency to conduct entrapment operations in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT)-7 for the rescue of the women.

In Punta Engaño, “Meccy” allegedly met with undercover operatives at the hotel with the women he had brought. He was arrested after receiving payment for the alleged sexual services.

In Pajac, “Boyet” allegedly sought the assistance of “Jake” and “G-Boy” in arranging for more women to be brought to the venue, while “Dodoy” allegedly transported them to the private villa using a van.

According to the NBI, the four suspects and the women they brought were taken to a room where they were presented to the undercover operatives posing as customers. The four men were arrested after allegedly receiving payment.

The five suspects were brought to the NBI-CEBDO office for processing and were temporarily detained at its detention facility. The 41 rescued women were turned over to the DSWD-7 for processing and custody.

On October 13, the five suspects underwent inquest proceedings before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Lapu-Lapu City for qualified trafficking in persons under Section 4 (a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended by Republic Act 10364, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, in relation to Sections 6 (a) and 6 (c) of the same law.