MANILA – Authorities must impose the “harshest penalties” under the law on the recruiter of the three Filipinas rescued from an alleged prostitution ring in Malaysia, Sen. Cynthia Villar said.
Identified only as “Mary Rose,” “Julie Ann” and “Ailene,” the Filipinas were recently repatriated from Malaysia after being forced to work in a prostitution den under the guise of a KTV bar.
“We have seen this modus before – recruiters using the promise of work and good salary as bait so they could attract our kababayan, usually in the provinces,” said Villar. “They would know there’s no such promised job for them when they are already in the other country, where they would be maltreated and forced to do illegal activities.”
Illegal recruiters continue to operate despite Republic Act 9283, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, she lamented.
All residents of Bataan, the Filipinas were recruited by a certain Rea Cervantes to work as performers in Malaysia with a monthly salary of P40,000.
In September 2017 they left Manila for Zamboanga City. At the Zamboanga airport, they were assisted by four men and travelled via boat to Basilan, and then to Tawi-Tawi. From Tawi-Tawi, they travelled to Malaysia via speedboat.
In Malaysia, they were assigned as waitresses at the Labuan Kings Musical and KTV Bar in Kota Kinabalu.
Apart from serving food and drinks, the Filipinas were allegedly required to entertain and give sexual favors to customers.
Mary Rose, Julie Ann and Ailene were not paid their salaries, not allowed to go out, beaten, and starved by their employer.
Their phones were also confiscated. But one of them had a spare phone, which she used in seeking help.
In October 2017 the three Filipinas were rescued and taken to a shelter where they stayed until their repatriation this month.
Villar provided the Filipinas financial and livelihood aid and invited them to avail themselves of free trainings under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, farm schools and other learning sites./PN
