KTV bar operators charged with human trafficking

CEBU, Philippines - A criminal complaint for qualified human trafficking was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office against the operators of Red Lips KTV Bar following a successful operation Thursday evening wherein 26 women allegedly used in prostitution have been rescued.

The respondents include the manager, assistant manager and the alleged pimp who were arrested during the operation. The FREEMAN withheld the names of the respondents in compliance with the provisions of the Republic Act 9208.

All of them however claimed innocence of the complaint and asked for a preliminary investigation. The respondents signed a waiver of detention to allow NBI’s continued custody of them pending the resolution of the complaint.

The 26 rescued women are now in custody of the Departmentof Social WelfareandDevelopment. NBI-7 operatives raided Red Lips KTV Bar along General Maxilom Avenue at 10:30 p.m. Thursday. The operation resulted in the arrest of the respondents and the rescue of the women.

Prosecutor Liceria Rabillas, who represented the Department of Justice in the operation, said that prior to the raid the NBI conducted one week surveillance operation to confirm information that the bar is being used as a prostitution den.

An undercover operative went inside the bar supposedly to avail of the services of the women. Using the marked-money, the undercover agent negotiated with the respondents. After the payment was made for supposed sexual services, the rest of the operatives swooped down on the bar and arrested the suspects.

DSWD-7 director Evelyn Macapobre said her office can provide intervention for the rescued women.

“For the adults, kung willing mo-avail sa services, pwede nato tagaan sila ug interventions. Naay uban gusto mopabilin sa amo and during their stay we give them trainings and some recreational activities. For others, nga nigawas, dili mi makapugos nila kay it’s also against the law, it is illegal detention,” Macapobre said.

She said for those who will be found to be minors will be left under their custody.

“For the minors naa gyud ni namu, not unless we see nga ang ilang ginikanan responsible and dili na involve sa trafficking kay para miski on-going ang kaso, dili sila matintal kung hayloon sila nga i-atras ang kaso. Naa man guy ubang ginikanan nga motolerate kay makakuha man silag kwarta sa ilang mga anak involved in this kind of activity,” she added. (FREEMAN)