Gov. Barbers fights illegal recruitment

SURIGAO CITY — Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers assured victims of illegal recruitment that his office will personally see to it that cases of illegal recruitment and violation of children’s rights will push through in court.

Barbers gave the assurance during a media forum at the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) office here recently.

Barbers, together with Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra, local PPA manager Jun Almeda and labor officials in the Caraga region, presented to reporters illegal recruitment suspects Paquita and Merle Juagpao of Davao City and Teresita Rante of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.

The three suspects were arrested by PPA port policemen, led by PPSG Froilan Caturla and PPFC Eugenio Lira Jr., at the Lipata ferry terminal here, as they tagged along their victims, including 18 women, nine of them minors, last Aug. 3-4.

The arrests were made based on information relayed to the PPA by the Public Assistance and Reaction Against Crime. Inc. (PARAC), which Sen. Robert Barbers founded.

"We cannot allow these incidents to happen in the city and in the province," said Gov. Barbers.