Some areas under surveillance for ‘human trafficking’ activities

CEBU, Philippines - In view of the recent arrest of an alleged human trafficker, an official of the Provincial Women's Commission (PWC) yesterday revealed that they are currently doing under surveillance operations in some areas in Cebu for possible human trafficking activities. 

However, these surveillance operations are not yet "ripe" for them to conduct rescue operations to save the victims, said PWC Gender and Development officer Hedda Largo.

"Ang atong opisina, daghan nata'g gihimo nga under surveillance. But dili pa ripe alang sa rescue. So, by the time nga makuha na nato tanang ebidensiya, tanan nga basihanan aron ma-rescue ang bata, ato ning buhaton." Largo told the press.

Human trafficking and cyber-pornography have become a "cottage industry" in the Philippines, including Cebu, according to the chief of the National Bureau of Investigation - Anti-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD).

Lawyer Janet Francisco, who heads the NBI-AHTRAD, described it as alarming the rapid proliferation of human trafficking and sexual brutality in the country.

"Human trafficking and cyber-pornography have become a cottage industry in our country. It is booming business actually," she said.

"Cebu is like Taguig in Manila na hotspot sa cyber trafficking," she added.

The NBI was able to heave a sigh of relief when its agents arrested one of the country's notorious child traffickers Wednesday afternoon in Malapascua Island.

Liezyl Margallo, 23, a native of Cagayan de Oro City, has 16 outstanding warrants of arrest for several counts of human trafficking violations.

Margallo, who went in hiding since 2015, used different names - Gina Carpio Batulan and Shanon Carpio - in her identification cards and passport to conceal her real identity.

She allegedly helped her former live-in partner, Australian "pedophile" Peter Gerard Scully, to operate an international cyber-pornography trade.

They reportedly sexually abused and tortured 11 children, including a girl who was just only 18 months old.  The couple allegedly also killed a 12-year-old girl, while video-taping the gruesome scenes.

Francisco said the couple has been feeding a global market with pedophilic videos, charging up to $10,000 for footage of children being tortured and abused by other minor victims.

The operations reportedly stopped in 2015 when Scully was nabbed in his rented house in Malaybalay City, in Bukidnon for allegedly running a pedophile ring and molesting dozens of children.

Scully, dubbed as "porno king" and "predator," is currently jailed in Cagayan de Oro.

Margallo, on the other hand, was tracked down with the help of the Australian Federal Police, leading to her arrest Wednesday.

NBI-7 Regional Director Patricio Bernales Jr. said they have turned over Margallo to CDO authorities yesterday.

 "Sa ngayon, sa pagkakaalam namin hindi na siya engaged sa dating distribution na child pornography. Based on intelligence information, nag-cater sa mga tourists and probably selling herself to clients," she said.

Largo said there were cases of child pornography and human trafficking in Cebu but the victims were not tortured similar to what happened to 11 minors in Mindanao.

"There have been no reported cases of torture and physical maltreatment of victims of child trafficking in Cebu. Ang pre-dominant case is gikuyog sila," she said.

Francisco said further that they have been intensifying their campaign to address cases of human trafficking and cyber-pornography.

Over 20 perpetrators of cyber-pornography all over the country were already convicted following the cases filed against them by NBI.

 Meanwhile,   Kabayan  Partylist Representative Harry Roque has described the crime in the video dubbed as 'The Destruction of Daisy' as the "worst crime" ever been committed.

The video showed a naked 18-month old baby tortured by a masked and naked woman believed to be Liezyl Margallo.

"It's the crime against children, it's the crime against those suffering from poverty. I hope the government goes all out to prosecute and to punish the perpetrators of this crime of human slavery," said Roque in a press conference.

Roque is also alarmed that the region has one of the highest incidence of human trafficking.

"Talagang kinakailangang buhusan po natin ng  resources para matigil na po itong modern day slavery," he said.

Roque is hoping the Duterte administration to also prioritize anti-trafficking and the need to fully implement the law. — Kristine B. Quintas, Gregg M. Rubio and Izhar Seth P. Aloy (FREEMAN)