Working Mommy-to-be 6 months on the way pregnant sex worker rescued

CEBU, Philippines - A 6-month pregnant commercial sex worker and three other co-workers were rescued by the police on Thursday evening in Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City.

The operation was conducted after a letter from a concerned citizen was sent to the Cebu City Intelligence Branch (CIB) last Wednesday, asking the police to rescue a 24-year-old pregnant sex worker of Tuminhaw, Daanbantayan town.

Aside from the pregnant victim, also rescued during the operation were a 21-year-old woman from Aninang Sur, Bogo City; a 22-year-old woman of Purok Manangson, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental and a 26-year-old woman from Narciso Nueva, Surigao City.

City Intelligence chief Romeo Santander relayed the request to the Cebu City Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) headed by Sr. Insp. Joan Arnoco. 

Arnoco, together with her operatives, immediately placed the area under surveillance but they failed to spot the victim on Wednesday.

However, at around 10 p.m. on Thursday, police operatives spotted the victim.

An undercover police operative posed as a customer and asked a pimp for the victim.

It was at this point that police operatives stormed the area where women were lined at the side of the road for customers to see.

The four victims also tried to flee but were not able to go far because they were wearing high heels. 

Arnoco said the victim admitted to being a commercial sex worker because of poverty. The pregnant commercial sex worker reportedly said she needed the money and added that nobody forced them to do it.

“Kapit sa patalim gyud ni sila basta wala na gyu’y kwarta. Mao na ang ilang pirme nga rason,(They always reason out that they sell their bodies because they need the money.)” she said.

The victim’s pimps were not arrested during the operation after they manage to flee when the police arrived. The WCPD operatives brought the four victims to the Department of Social Welfare and Development – 7 Crisis Intervention Unit for routine tests.

“We can’t hold them for long. After their DSWD tests, they might return to their old job,” Arnoco told The FREEMAN. –(FREEMAN)