3 arrested for allegedly trafficking women, including minors — NBI

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday announced the arrest of three individuals in Tondo, Manila over the sexual trafficking of women and minors for up to P15,000.

In a statement, the NBI-National Capital Region said an entrapment operation was conducted on Wednesday which resulted in the arrest of alias Monalisa, alias Raven, and alias Pearl.

The NBI conducted the operation after receiving information regarding sex trafficking activities, particularly the trafficking of minors aged 13 to 17 years old, through social media for P8,000 to P15,000.

The arrested individuals were offering and delivering minors to their clients for sexual intercourse and other sexual favors, even those involving sexual violence, abuse, and exploitation.

According to the bureau, the operation was conducted in the resort that alias Monalisa reserved for a party. There, the subjects brought 23 victims, 11 of which were minors.

“Adult victims voluntarily executed their respective sworn statements thereby confirming the human trafficking activities,” the NBI said.

In John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras” on Friday, the NBI said that among the clients were Chinese workers in Philippine offshore gaming operators. 

“So ang mga clients po nito ay normally mga Chinese, Korean, iba’t-ibang lahi ang involved. Kaya ang rates nila ay may kataasan,” said  NBI agent Jerome Hernandez. 

(Their clients are normally Chinese, Koreans, and other nationalities. So their rates are quite high.) 

The NBI also said that the rescued individuals were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

The subjects were presented for inquest before Manila prosecutors for violation of the Expanded Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, and the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse Exploitation Materials Act. — BAP, GMA Integrated News