CEBU, Philippines — The Chinese national arrested last October for his alleged involvement in the sex trafficking of two 14-year-olds has been charged yesterday for violating Republic Act 10364, otherwise known as the Expanded Trafficking in Persons Act.
Police Chief Inspector Ildefonso Miranda Jr. of Mandaue City Police Office said the minors together with their parents filed the complaint against Mark David Tan Cue, 37, currently residing in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
According to Miranda, as the minors were filing the report, Tan was communicating with them through Facebook Messenger, which prompted police to set up an entrapment operation for his arrest.
"Pag ari nila sa amo, pag sumbong sa ginikanan, nag-sige gihapon na og chat/text sa iyaha ang (Chinese). Mao dinha namo nahibaw-an. Mao to akong giingnan ang akong mga tawo na mag-prepare ta for operation.. Entrapment operation kay nag text-text man sila kung asa sila mag-kita, kung diin sila kuhaon. Mao to nag-deploy dayun ko og tawo sa area... Kadtong area nga gi-specify sa ilang chat/text nila," he said.
Miranda said that the two minors were recruited by a 16-year-old schoolmate and another woman.
He said that they are now conducting a follow-up investigation on the two alleged pimps.
In light of this, Miranda is asking motel and hotel establishments to strictly implement the 'No Minor Allowed' policy.
"Hinaot pa unta ba na i-strictly unta nila og implement ba kadtong no minors allowed gyud unta para gyud bitaw ma-minimize nato," he said.
"Either madakpan nato gyud sa ilang abag nga pagpakabalo sa ato," he added.
He also encourages parents to monitor their children to know what they are into.
"Kinahanglan gyud sa ginikanan na dili bitaw ingon nga igo lang mo abot, igo lang mo lakaw ang ilang mga anak. Ila gyud nang sundan og asa ba. I-monitor kung mamahimo nila," he said.
"Kanang chat-chat gyud, kana gyud, usa ron ug mamahimo lang ipalikay gyud unta na nila galing usahay kay di ta kahibalo na niliko na diay ngadto. Usa pa gyud nang cellphone. Usa pa gyud nang makahatag og mga idea sa kabatan-onan nga makahatag og dili maayo pud," he added.
Miranda also said that they can disseminate information about this issue to schools and teachers who can, in turn, educate the students.
"Ang ato lang gyu'ng intervention ani kay first, dira gyud pud sa eskwelahan, ang kining atong mga teachers kay amo namang gipahibalo so sila na po'y mag-disseminate og maayo (sa kabatan-onan)," he said. (FREEMAN)