Woman charged for trafficking

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has found probable cause to charge a woman before the court for allegedly recruiting, hiring, and transporting a 13-year-old girl for purposes of prostitution and/or sexual exploitation.

Prosecutor Alex Gabud held the woman, a resident of Barangay Basak-Pardo, Cebu City, for trial for a violation of Section 4(a) in relation to Section 6 (a) of Republic Act 9208 or Anti-trafficking in Persons Act.

The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the woman to protect the identity of the minor; both are members of the same fraternity.

“In the case before us which remains uncontroverted for failure of the respondent to controvert the same it is apparent that the latter recruited the complainant for the purpose of prostitution,” the resolution read.

The 13-year-old girl alleged that on February 13, 2018, the woman went to their house in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City, with a friend. She was told by the woman that they will go to a condominium to meet someone.

In the condominium, she was introduced to an elderly foreigner. After the woman left the room, the foreigner allegedly made advances on her, but she resisted.

The minor said she eventually escaped after the foreigner had to talk to someone over his phone.

She further said she saw the foreigner texting the woman to give his money back.

Gabud issued a subpoena to the woman to make her answer the accusations against her. After no reply was received, he elevated the case to court.

“It is likewise clear from the allegations of the same complainant that in exchange or as payment or reward for providing the foreigner the victim, respondent received from the said foreigner an undetermined amount which was personally seen by the said complainant,” the resolution further read. (FREEMAN)