Two pimps arrested, five women rescued
CEBU, Philippines - Two alleged female pimps were arrested Tuesday evening during an entrapment operation which also resulted in the rescue of five commercial sex workers operating in Barangay Capitol Site.
The police identified the suspects as Tara Dacayana, 29, and Mary Grace Lumayag, 20, both residents of Cebu City.
Insp. Jesus Arong of the City Investigation and Detective Management Branch said they were conducting a saturation drive along Juana Osmeña when they found the suspects doing their illegal activity.
Arong said that they saw several women standing along the road apparently waiting for customers. Dacayana and Lumayag were allegedly the ones looking for customers for the women.
PO2 Crisostomo Bayato, Jr., together with a member of the Barangay Peace-keeping Action Team (BPAT), approached the two pimps and pretended to hire one of the women.
Bayato handed over P1,000 cash to the two pimps and as soon as the suspects received the marked money, they were arrested by the police.
Arong said a case for white slavery under Article 341 and Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Republic Act 9208 or Anti-trafficking in Persons Act will be filed against the two pimps.
The police are also looking at the possibility of filing a case for prostitution against the five women.
“File-an usab sila kay during sa negotiation, naa man sila. Kita man sila paghatag sa kwarta. Aware man sila na gibayaran sila (A case will be filed also against the five women because they were present during the negotiation and they were aware that they are being paid),†Arong said.
The IDMB official said pimping is rampant in the area.
“Usually sa gabii, naa g’yud na sila diha mangatang og mga foreigner. Daghan mang mga pension houses duol diha (They are there every night looking for foreigners because there are plenty of pension houses in the area),†Arong added.
The suspects are now detained at the Cebu City Police Office stockade and are set to face the charges today. — (FREEMAN)
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