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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 5 persons charged with qualified human trafficking

5 persons charged with qualified human trafficking

Published Sep 28, 2025 02:32 pm
Five persons, one of them a foreigner, have been charged with qualified trafficking in persons by alleged victims who were reportedly abused physically and forced at gunpoint to do online sex shows.
The complaints against them were filed before the Bacoor City Prosecutor’s Office by three alleged victims – a male and two female – for violations of Sections 4(a) and 6(c) of Republic Act No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
The five respondents were named in the complaint as Adel Nouri, of Nouri International Placement Agency and allegedly an executive of the Harrods Department Store in London, and Filipinos Raffaela A. Razon, Krizia Ann Geronda Loyang, Ricardo Evangelista Fernandez, and Joshua Sy Lim.
In their complaint-affidavit, the complainants stated “sila Raffael A. Razon, Krizia Ann Geronda Loyang, Ricardo Fernandez, Joshua Sy Lim at Edel En Nouri ay nag-sabwatan upang kami ay himukin na mag-trabaho at dalhin sa ibang lugar para mamolestiya or online sexual exploitation (Raffael A. Razon, Krizia Ann Geronda Loyang, Ricardo Fernandez, Joshua Sy Lim at Edel En Nouri conspired to urged us to work and bring us to a place for molestation or online sexual exploitation).”
They said they were able to file the complaint-affidavit after having escaped from the establishment where they were kept against their will in Bacoor City, Cavite.
They alleged that they each paid P100,000 for placement fee as well as P50,000 each for air fare.
The complainants recounted that last May they contacted the Facebook page of the Nouri International Placement Agency that claims to be looking for workers or domestic helpers in Europe.
They said they were told that “ang aming magiging sahod kada buwan ay P80,000 at libre ang aming pagkain at tirahan (we will get a monthly salary of P80,000 as well as free food and lodging).”
They also said that last July 7, they were asked to go to the office of the recruitment agency in Bacoor City and, when they got there, they observed “sila ay nakasuot ng pambahay lamang (the respondents are just wearing house clothes).”
“Dahil dito ay napag-isip kami at napagtanto namin na ito pala ay kanilang tahanan na ginawang ng din nilang opisina (Because of this, we realized that the place was their home that they converted into an office),” they recounted.
They alleged that they were instructed by Razon and Loyang to work at the office for training and assessment while their applications were being processed.
“Hindi kami pumayag dahil hindi ito ang aming napagkasunduan, subalit dahil sa kanilang paulit-ulit na pangungulit, napilitan kaming sumang-ayon sa kanilang mga kagustuhan (We refused because this was not what we agreed, however, due to their repeated demands, we agreed to do what they were asking),” they also alleged.
Later on, they claimed they were forced by the respondents to heed to the demands of Nouri to send lewd photos, otherwise, they will not be allowed to leave the place and get back their money.
With their refusal to heed the demands, they alleged that “nakaranas kami ng pananakit pisikal kina Ricardo Evangelista Fernandez at Joshua Sy Lim (they suffered physical abuse inflicted by Ricardo Evangelista Fernandez at Joshua Sy Lim).”
Thereafter, they alleged that their two women companions were forced to do online sex shows with Nuori watching.
While the online sex shows were happening, the complainant alleged that Joshua Sy Lim was watching while holding a gun.
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