Minors rescued in operation against illegal trafficking

CEBU, Philippines - Five minor girls were rescued while seven women were arrested in an operation against human trafficking in the northern towns of Daanbantayan and San Remigio dawn last Saturday.

The girls, aged between 15 and 16, were reportedly recruited as clerks for a store, but they allegedly ended up working as entertainers in different bars.

Two of the girls reportedly claimed they were 18 years old, but operatives were not convinced and prodded further. The two girls eventually admitted they are below 18.

Sr. Insp. Leo Logroño of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) said they checked the Rosal Videoke bar in Barangay Pajo, Daanbantayan at past 2 a.m. and found out that the rooms inside were used as sex dens.

At that point, the victims revealed that their companions were made to work at the Horse Shoe bar and at another bar in Barangay Hagnaya in San Remigio. Operatives then proceeded to the two bars and rescued two more minors.

The rescued girls reportedly are from the towns of Balamban, Daanbantayan and Sogod.

Those arrested were identified as Charry Rabuna, Marife Cañar, Lara Mae Coloma, Linda Paulin, Jeraly Oliamot, Jenky Lubiano and Rosario Hinuguin. They are detained temporarily at the Naga City Police Station pending the filing of charges against them for violating Republic Act 9208 or the Expanded Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

All rescued minors were taken to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 for stress debriefing.

Prior to the rescue operation, police also arrested Ivan Lucero, Zosima Olivar and Gaze Canales at a bar in Barangay Pajo. Confiscated from the suspects were 105 small packs of shabu worth P28,000.

A poseur buyer bought P300 of shabu from Lucero, an alleged level two drug pusher who allegedly disposed of more than 250 grams of shabu weekly. Lucero attempted to escape but failed.

SPO1 Reynaldo Solante said they recovered a packet of shabu from Olivar and Canales.

Olivar is the brother of Rene Olivar who eluded arrest during an operation against illegal gambling in Barangay Lamintak Norte, Medellin recently.

Only Olivar’s ushers, Rogelio Mangubat, 40; Teodoro Yurag, 40; Alfredo Yurag, 27; Monalisa Lanurias, 32; Michael Yuson, 47; and Rosabella Gulfan, 36, all from the said town, were arrested.  (FREEMAN)