Human trafficking cases set for filing in court vs 2 persons arrested in Tuguegaro City -- NBI
The Prosecutor’s Office of Tuguegarao City has recommended the filing in court of human trafficking charges against two persons arrested last July for allegedly engaging in online prostitution involving minors.
In a statement, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuguegarao City prosecutors issued a resolution last July 25 ordering the filing of charges for violation of Section 4(a) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9208, the Trafficking in Persons Act in relation to Sections 6(a) and 10(e), as amended, for the trafficking of minors; Section 4(a) of RA No. 9208 in relation to Sections 6(a) and 10(a), as amended, for the acts committed against the adult victims.
The names of those set for charging in court were not disclosed by the NBI. A copy of the prosecutors' resolution was not immeditely available.
The NBI said “the case stemmed from the operation conducted by NBI-Lal-Lo District Office (LALDO) on the online prostitution activity allegedly offering sexual services of minors through a social media platform.”
It said “through internet surveillance and communication with the subjects, it was confirmed that the identified subjects are actually involved in the business of online prostitution in Tuguegarao City."
“Based on information gathered by NBI-LALDO, subjects offer P3,500 as service fee for each of their wards or ‘talents,’” it also said.
With this information, NBI operatives from the NBI-LALDO and the NBI Cagayan Valley Regional Office (NBI-CAVRO) hatched an entrapment operation that led to the arrest of the two persons last July 9 at a lodge in Tuguegarao City.
During the operation, the NBI said the operatives also rescued five females including three minors.
“Rescued minors were brought into the custody and care of the DSWD R2 (Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 2) for proper intervention,” it also said.