MANDAUE CITY: Five individuals were arrested and 41 girls, including 10 minors, were rescued in two simultaneous anti-human trafficking operations conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation Cebu District Office (NBI-CEBDO) in Lapu-Lapu City on Saturday, October 10.
The operations were conducted at a resort in Punta Engaño and a private villa in Barangay Pajac following reports that young girls, including minors, were being offered for paid sex through online contacts.
Arrested were Emerson Siaton, also known as “Messy” or “Meccy,” in Punta Engaño, and Cristofer Añana Matus, alias “Boyet”; Jicky Benalon Makipig, alias “Jake”; Arjie Barrientos Andrade, alias “G-Boy”; and Jonerie Espina Tabotabo, alias “Dodoy,” in Pajac.
During a press conference on Wednesday, October 14, NBI-CEBDO agent-in-charge Atty. Niño Rodriguez said investigators monitored the suspects after receiving information that they were allegedly offering girls for sexual services in exchange for money.
Undercover agents subsequently confirmed the activity, prompting the bureau to conduct entrapment operations in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 7 and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Region 7.
In Punta Engaño, authorities rescued 15 girls, nine of whom were minors. In Pajac, another 26 girls were rescued, including one minor.
The rescued girls were turned over to DSWD Region 7 for processing and custody, while the five suspects were brought to the NBI-CEBDO office for investigation and detention.
Rodriguez said the suspects allegedly used online pages and comment sections to connect with prospective customers before offering girls through private messages. Investigators also found that some girls had been invited to pool or birthday parties without being informed beforehand that they would be offered for sexual services.
"What is somewhat alarming is that some of the girls were simply told, ‘Go to a pool party or birthday party.’ However, our investigation found that the pimp responded to specific requests from poseur customers. So, there was still an element of deception involving the victims because some of them were not told that they would be sold for sex," Rodriguez said.
He said the youngest rescued victim was 13 years old, while the others included 14-year-olds.
According to Rodriguez, the alleged arrangement generally involved a fee of P5,000 per girl, of which P2,000 allegedly went to the pimps. Minors were allegedly offered for as much as P8,000.
NBI-CEBDO head agent Arnel Pura said the suspects faced complaints for qualified trafficking in persons under Republic Act No. 9208, as amended by Republic Act No. 10364, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.
Pura said the suspects were not eligible for bail because the alleged offences involved minors and, in the Pajac operation, syndicated trafficking.
He added that investigators were also looking into the possible liability of the owners of the properties used in the operations. Authorities will determine whether the owners knew their establishments were being used for trafficking before considering the filing of additional cases.
The suspects underwent inquest proceedings before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office on October 13. They declined to comment when approached for an interview.
The NBI urged parents to stay vigilant about their children’s activities and the people they associate with, especially when they receive invitations to parties or outings from people they do not know well.
