A woman has been arrested in Pampanga for "sex trafficking of teen-aged girls," the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Tuesday, July 23.
The NBI said the woman, whose identity was withheld, was arrested last July 18 in Angeles City during an entrapment operation conducted by operatives of the NBI Organized Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCD).
“The operation resulted in the arrest of the Subject after she received P12,000 entrapment money as payment for the four girls she brought for the poseur-clients,” the bureau said.
After her arrest, the NBI said the woman was charged before the Prosecutor’s Office of Angeles City with violations of Republic Act (RA) 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act; RA 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended; and RA 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The rescued girls were placed under the custody of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Angeles City.
The NBI said it acted on information it received from a non-government organization (NGO).
“According to the NGO, Subject is operating mostly in Pampanga and nearby provinces, and maintains a network of girls aged 13-17 years old as prostitutes,” it said.
“Additionally, Subject is peddling the girls through social media for P3,000 to P5,000 each,” it added.
Prior to the July 18 entrapment operation, the NBI-OTCD had undercover agents establish communication with the woman and eventually confirmed her sex trafficking activities involving minors.
“She even sent photos of the women through Messenger,” the NBI said.