Charges filed vs 3 suspected Quezon human traffickers
Formal criminal charges have been filed against three persons accused of human trafficking before the Quezon Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Charged with violation of Republic Act 9208 as amended by RA 10364, otherwise known as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, were Irene Ponce, Learnel Pamisaran and Meliza Bizon.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) brought them before the prosecutor’s office for inquest following their arrest in Atimonan, Quezon.
During the operation, six women – five of them minors aged 14 to 17 years old – have been rescued and subsequently turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Atimonan.
The operation stemmed from an intelligence information regarding the recruitment of minors from Lucena City to work as guest relations officer (GRO) at Sweet Spicy Bar located in Bgy. Tagbakin, Atimonan.
Surveillance operation was conducted by NBI-Lucena City District Office (LUCDO) in the said bar and confirmed that several minors are working as GROs.
It was also learned that sexual services with their clients are also provided in exchange for a fee of P2,000 which is to be paid directly to either of the suspects.
Last June 24, NBI-LUCDO conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of the suspects and rescue of the minors.
Sworn statements executed by the rescued victims confirmed the illegal operation of the bar and tagged Ponce as the owner, Pamisaran as the floor manager and Bizon as the cashier.
