MPD busts sex slavery syndicate in Manila

The Manila Police District arrested three suspected members of a white slavery syndicate following the escape of two girls recruited in the provinces and forced to service crewmen of foreign ships docked at Manila Bay.

The girls, aged 13 and 17, were allegedly recruited by a syndicate member in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, promising them jobs as entertainers.

The female recruiter often convinces the girls to go with her to Manila without informing their parents about the trip.

The girls are kept inside a house at the Baseco Compound in Port Area, Manila under tight guard.

At night, the girls are brought on board a motorized banca to a foreign vessel docked at the Manila Bay breakwater. They then provide sex services to the foreign crew.

The girls are reportedly paid 50 Singaporean dollars each (roughly P1,250) for an overnight service. The syndicate deducts P500 as boat fare, according to the girls.

Following their escape, the girls sought the assistance of TV public affairs program "Imbestigador," which then brought them to the MPD headquarters.

Operatives of the MPD’s General Assignment Section, led by Superintendent Arturo Paglinawan, together with a social worker and barangay officials, swooped down on a house at the Baseco Compound, where three suspected syndicate members were arrested.

Paglinawan identified the suspects as Sanchel Madrigal, 25, the alleged recruiter; Rizza Asis, 30; the owner of the house where the girls were kept; and Fulgencio Diaz, 31, the boatman.

Madrigal denied allegations that she deceived the girls and recruited them as sex workers, saying they were prostitutes who voluntarily went with her to Manila to earn more. The other two suspects denied forcing the girls to work as prostitutes to service foreign seamen.

The three suspects were charged for violation of the anti-trafficking law and the anti-child abuse law.

Paglinawan commended his men — Inspector Diosdado Lagajino, SPO3 Elias Dematera, SPO3 Federico Mateo, SPO3 Renato Viray, SPO2 Rolando Bañez, SPO1 Jaime Bunag, SPO1 Sergio Macaraeg, PO3 Raulk Imperial, PO3 Gerry Ong, PO2 Ronald Carlos and PO2 Jose Ramil Millanez — for the busting of the sex syndicate and the rescue of the girls.

The girls are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.