ILOILO City – Authorities here rescued a total of 10 women from alleged human traffickers.
Major James Allen Dogao, field unit chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in this city, said the women aged 22 to 32 years old were allegedly being pimped for P1,500 on Friday night.
“The information of the alleged prostitution has reached us, which prompted our team to operate in Mabolo village, Delgado,” Dogao added.
He described the modus as a “take out scheme,” where clients are being approached by alleged human traffickers “and make them choose who will be their partner for the night.”
Two alleged pimps – Jimmy Cuarte, 56, of Cabatuan, Iloilo; and Ramil Dequiña, 24, of Iloilo City – were nabbed in the operation.
Dogao said the CIDG will further probe human trafficking in this city, adding that the transaction of this illegal business might be “organized.”
“This group might be organized, and they follow a hierarchy. In our assessment, those who were arrested were in the middle to (the) higher point (of the hierarchy),” he said.
Dogao added more women are needed to be rescued as one of the victims claimed there are still “others who were sent to Bacolod because there is an event.”
“We will also investigate if the transaction here is connected (to) Bacolod (trafficking ring),” he said.
He added women who are in prostitution were urged to stop and instead avail of the government services.
“They can avail the services of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Labor and Employment for training,” Dogao said.
The rescued women are currently under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in this city.
Meanwhile, the suspects were placed in the custody of the CIDG here, and were charged with violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208 as amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.(With a report from PNA/PN)
