No bail for couple who paid minor to steal

CEBU, Philippines - The prosecutor’s office has recommended no bail against a couple indicted for allegedly manipulating a minor to commit illegal acts.

 Prosecutor Rhodna Baca-tan held Rommel, 42 and Dyna Quan, 42, for trial for violation of Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) 10364, otherwise known as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

 “The uncontested evidence on record, and the circumstances of the case convinced this office that respondents connived with each other in harboring and maintaining (by providing food and shelter to the minor) a child for purposes of exploitation,” read the resolution.

 Aside from the expanded anti-trafficking in persons, the couple is also charged for Section 10 paragraph (a) of RA 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.  Bacatan recommended a bail of P60,000 for the child abuse case against each of the two.

 On August 11, 2015,  a certain Joselito Lano sought the help of the police after he lost his bag containing documents and cash amounting to P150,000.    Lano alleged that his bag was placed inside his car parked in front of a dental supplies shop along Urgello Street, Sambag 2, Cebu City.

 In the course of the investigation, the police were able to identify the perpetrator, a 15-year-old boy. They went to the house of the minor but the latter was not there.

 They learned that the minor was living with the couple in Barangay Calamba, Cebu City.  The police were able to confront the minor at the residence of the couple about the missing bag. The minor told them he threw the bag on the road and turned over the money to the Quans.

 The police recovered P12,000 cash out of the victim’s P150,000.

 The police alleged the couple has been providing minors with food and shelter in order to corrupt and manipulate them to do illegal acts for financial benefit.  (FREEMAN)