Cops rescue 52 human trafficking victims at Clark Freeport

Central Luzon police and government social workers rescued some 52 female human trafficking victims from a KTV bar at the Fontana Leisure Estate inside the Clark Freeport Zone on the eve of Chinese New Year Thursday, February 11.

Colonel Soldeda Elefanio said in a statement issued to local media on Friday, February 12, that the anti-trafficking in-person operation was conducted by joint operatives of the Central Luzon police’s Special Concern Unit, Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Group, Mabalacat City police, and Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 3 at the KTV Bar in Fontana.

The operation resulted in the rescue of 52 female workers who were allegedly being sexually exploited by the bar owners and operators, whom the police did not identify.

“The operation resulted [in] the arrest of 5 suspects and the rescue of 52 female victims who were all legal ages allegedly involved in illegal sex trade in Angeles City,” the statement said.

Elefanio said that a marked P1,000 bill used in the sting operation was recovered from one of the 5 arrested persons, which included a man and 4 women.

The marked peso bill was placed on top of 19 pieces of “play money” to make it appear that the undercover policemen posing as customers were paying P20,000 for sex with the rescued women. It was learned that sex with a woman costs between P5,000 and P10,000.

Police also confiscated a set of a desktop computer, two logbooks, and P20,520 cash from the bar.

The Police Regional Office 3 did not give other details about the rescue operation. It said that the 5 arrested employees of the KTV Bar will be charged for violation of Republic Act 10364, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

It was learned that the 5 arrested persons were just ordinary employees of the bar and that the manager, whom the trafficked persons referred to as “Boss Jas,” was able to elude arrest.

In December 2019, the Central Luzon police Regional Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Group 3 raided two residential buildings inside the Clark Freeport Zone and rescued 23 Chinese and Vietnamese women who were allegedly being used for clandestine prostitution activities. Five Chinese men were arrested. – Rappler.com