CEBU, Philippines - Forty trafficked women, seven are said to be minors, were rescued from a KTV bar in Lapu-Lapu City during a recent raid conducted by the Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Force.
Nine of the rescued women have executed their affidavits against the owners of the bar who are allegedly Korean nationals.
A criminal complaint for qualified trafficking or violation of the Republic Act 9208 otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act was already filed against the Korean owners of the KTV bar.
Once convicted the suspects, name withheld by The FREEMAN in compliance with the R.A. 9208, may be meted with a penalty of life imprisonment.
Trafficking of human beings is the recruitment, transportation, harboring or receipt of people for the purpose of exploitation. Trafficked victims are recruited using coercion, deception, fraud, abuse of power or outright abduction.
Threats, violence and economic leverage can often make the victim consent to exploitation. Exploitation on the other hand includes forcing people into prostitution or other forms of sexual abuse, forced labor services, slavery and removal of organs.
All rescued women were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development where they are temporarily under the custody. The International Justice Mission, a non-government organization, is assisting the DSWD in providing additional security for the victims while inside the government facility before they will be eventually placed out for longer rehabilitation and mainstreamed back to their communities.
The IJM is also providing financial assistance to the victims such as transportation in going back to their respective hometowns. — Razel V. Cuizon and Clea Lhyle P. Ompad, USJ-R Masscom Interns/FPL (FREEMAN NEWS)