Two women arrested in Laguna last May 10 for sex trafficking of minor girls have been charged with non-bailable cases before the Binan City regional trial court (RTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday, June 11.
Those charged were Maria Jorgia Gadiano and Princess Anne Custodio who were indicted for five counts of violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended, in relation to RA 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
“May this serve as a warning to human traffickers who continuously oppress the weak especially minors for their self-interest,” said DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla in a statement.
The cases were filed in court after the DOJ’s Task Force on Women and Children Against Trafficking in Persons (TFWCATIP) issued a resolution approving the indictment of the two women who were arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-HTRAD) at a resort in Binan City where seven sex trafficking victims were rescued including six minors.
The DOJ said the NBI-AHTRAD operation stemmed from a tip received by the non-governmental organization “The Exodus Road” about Gadiano who was allegedly engaged in sex trafficking through the use of social media.
Following an investigation, the DOJ said NBI-AHTRAD operatives arranged an entrapment operation at a resort in Binan City.
During the operation, NBI operatives acting as poseur clients for a stag party struck a conversation with Gadiano and Custodio, it said.
“It was established that the girls were available for sexual service for a fee of P4,500 each, with them earning P2,000 after deducting the commissions of Gadiano, Custodio, and a minor whom Custodio instructed to bring additional girls,” it also said.
The involvement of the minor who brought additional girls would be determined after further investigation, it added.