Girl rescued from sex den; alleged gang leader killed

MANILA, Philippines - Police rescued a 13-year-old victim of sex trafficking in Sta. Cruz Manila yesterday and killed the alleged leader of the syndicate operating the sex den.

Joncel Aburido, 23, died at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center while being treated for a gunshot wound in the body.  

The police operation stemmed from a complaint filed by the parents of the girl, believed abducted by Aburido and forced into prostitution.

Inspector Armando Macaraeg, homicide chief of the Manila Police District, said the girl was rescued from one of the rooms at the Andalucia Inn in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Aburido, who was arrested during the operation, was being handcuffed by Police Officer 2 Angelo Buzon when he pulled out a fan knife and stabbed the lawman in the arm. 

Bunzon drew his firearm and shot the suspect. Aburido was taken to the hospital but died while being treated.

Buzon surrendered his service firearm and the suspect’s fan knife to investigators.

The girl said she was befriended by Aburido’s supposed live-in partner at her school and invited to visit them. She was drugged and woke up with her body aching all over.

The girl said she has been forced to have sex with nine men since then. She added that she was made to use shabu and locked up in the hotel room, and that she saw other girls being held in other rooms.

Macaraeg said they plan to rescue the syndicate’s other victims.