3 Singaporeans caught with minor charged in court

CEBU, Philippines - Three Singaporean nationals who were arrested in Cebu South Bus Terminal earlier this month in company with a minor not related to them are now facing criminal charges before the trial court.

The Cebu City Prosecutor's Office found sufficient ground to charge Tham Keng Wun, 53, Tan Lai Huat, 58, and Lim Choo Yeong, 54, for violation of Section 10(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act."

The law punishes anyone who keeps or has in his company a minor in any public or private place, hotel, motel, beer joint, discotheque, cabaret, pension house, sauna or massage parlor, beach and/or other tourist resort or similar places.

If found guilty, the perpetrator may face 12 years of imprisonment and a fine of not less than P50,000.

The law is not applicable to cases where the minor is related to the person within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity "or any bond recognized by law, local custom and tradition or acts in the performance of a social, moral or legal duty."

The three foreigners were onboard a Ceres bus when they were arrested by the police.

The arrest came on the heels of the report of the Department of Justice's Inter-Agency Council Against Human Trafficking personnel.

The personnel (name withheld for security) was conducting a roving around the South Bus terminal when he noticed three girls who were busy choosing sunglasses at a store inside the terminal, one of whom, he said, appeared to be minor.

The girls were accompanied by two foreigners.

When the personnel asked the minor for her age, it was her 21-year-old companion who answered that she was already 19.

Amid conversation, one of the foreigners suddenly grabbed the minor and immediately proceeded to the bus bound for Bato via Barili.

Initial investigation confirmed that one of the girls was indeed minor.

During the interview with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office Crisis Intervention Unit, it was found out that the minor is a victim of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

The foreigners are now currently detained. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga/NSA