3 rescued, 2 sisters nabbed for sex trade

CEBU, Philippines — Two sisters were arrested for alleged sex trafficking while their three young victims were rescued during a police operation in a well-known hotel in Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City Saturday night.

The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office- City Intelligence Branch (LCPO-CIB) arrested Mara Pilapil, 45, and her younger sister, Kathleen, 38, both residents of V. Rama Avenue, Barangay Calamba.

Superintendent Mark Gifter Sucalit, chief of LCPO-CIB, said they received information about the two alleged traffickers two weeks ago.

The suspects chose Lapu-Lapu City because they have more possible customers as the city is a top tourist destination.

The entrapment was conducted around 7:50 p.m. in coordination with Gun-ob Police Station 3 and the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of Lapu-Lapu City.

The three victims, two are aged 24 and the other one is 22, are also residents of Barangay Calamba.

The sisters allegedly lured the victims to go with them to Lapu-Lapu City where they can get customers.

During the operation, a police decoy posed as a customer and negotiated with the sisters.

The decoy gave P15,000 boodle money to the suspects in exchange for the services of the victims.

After Mara and Kathleen allegedly received the money, the decoy identified himself as policeman and arrested the sisters.

The police recovered the boodle money topped with P500 cash, and one unit of cellular phone that Mara used in communicating with possible customers.

The three victims are in the custody of Gun-ob Police and will be turned over to a non-government organization that handles human trafficking victims as they are no longer minors.

Sucalit said the suspects are detained in Gun-ob Police Station 3 and will be facing charges for violating Republic Act (RA) 9208 or Anti-trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended by RA 10634 or Expanded Anti-trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.  (FREEMAN)