Minor told to have sex with truck men

CEBU, Philippines - Two women from Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City are facing charges for attempted trafficking and child abuse after they allegedly forced but failed to convince a 15-year-old girl to have sex with men at the fish port.

The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor found probable cause to hold Jovie Saavedra and Virginia Ledesma for trial for violating Republic Act 9208 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, as amended by Republic Act 10364, and Republic Act 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Saavedra and Ledesma, who allegedly attempted to traffic the girl in separate occasions, failed to submit their counter-affidavit and other controverting evidence despite being summoned.

“A copy of the subpoena was sent to respondents but the return annotated that subject respondents cannot be found at the given address as the same was insufficient. Hence this complaint is now for resolution on the basis of the evidence submitted by complainant,” Prosecutor Aurora Peñaflor’s resolution read.

Peñaflor recommended no bail for the temporary liberty of the two women on their attempted trafficking charges and another P60,000 bail each on the charges for child abuse.

The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by the minor herself who alleged that the two women approached and told her in separate occasions to earn money by having sex with a truck man at the fish port.

The girl confirmed a report, which was brought to the attention of their barangay captain, that young girls in their area were recruited and offered to truck men at the port.

In her judicial affidavit, the minor said she knew about the illegal trade when her cousin and a long-time friend told her that they were allegedly recruited and offered the same.

Sometime in August or October last year, while the girl was hanging out with her friends, Saavedra allegedly approached and told her to go to her place where a man, from whom she could earn money, was waiting.

Saavedra, who is married and has children, is reportedly the niece of the wife of the complainant’s uncle.

The minor did not go to the suspect’s house. She said she was aware that if she went with Saavedra to her place, she would have sex with the man, based on the rumors in their area.

The complainant also warned the suspect that she would report her to her elder brother and further told her not to treat her like the other girls who the latter had allegedly recruited.

In a similar case sometime in January this year, the girl was on her way home when this time, Ledesma approached her.

The minor said she knew Ledesma as a sibling of their neighbor.

The woman then allegedly told her to have sex with an old truck man so she could have something to eat.

She added that Ledesma would receive something for her drug consumption should she agree with her offer.

However, the girl said she refused, but Ledesma insisted. The complainant reiterated her refusal and went home.

She said Saavedra and Ledesma did not approach her again following the two instances. (FREEMAN)