35 human trafficking victims rescued, 4 ‘pimps’ nabbed in Ecija
CABANATUAN CITY – An alleged human trafficking syndicate was believed busted in this city following the arrest of four suspected pimps and the rescue of 35 male victims in separate entrapment operations conducted here Wednesday afternoon.
Members of the Nueva Ecija police, Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Group-3, Regional Women and Children Protection Office, Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, and the city social welfare and development office joined forces in dismantling the alleged human trafficking operations being conducted in three separate sites within the city, it was reported.
Acting Nueva Ecija police director Col. Rhoderick B. Campo said the first entrapment and rescue operation was pulled off at the Lucky Jhey Resort in Purok 2, Bgy. Bakero in this city which resulted in the arrest of two suspects and the rescue of 22 boys.
In his report to Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Valeriano T. De Leon, Campo identified the two nabbed alleged pimps as Ronalyn Pascua, alias Jhazz, and Mark Victor Tiquia, alias Mica, both of this city.
A subsequent operation conducted at the Manson Lodge in Bgy. San Juan ACCFA led in the arrest of Danny Boy Flores, alias Ashley, also of this city. Campo said another seven boys were rescued in the area.
Campo added that a third operation conducted at the Odaiba Inn Lodging House in General Tinio Extension, Bgy. Hermogenes Concepcion Sr. led in the arrest of the fourth suspect identified as Jezzah Marijo Ferrer, 20, alias Irish, of Narra I, Bgy. Bitas, this city. Six alleged victims were also saved during the operation.
Campo said all 35 rescued victims were requested to undergo physical examination following the successful rescue operations.
He said charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208 as amended by RA 10364, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, in relation to RA 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, were slapped against the arrested suspects.
De Leon said the rescue operations conducted by joint forces of different police units strongly send a message that the Philippine National Police sternly implements its focused police operations to curb all forms of criminality within the four corners of the country.
