By Jason De Asis
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Authorities rescued 17 women in two consecutive anti-human trafficking operations in Pampanga province last week.
In a news release Thursday, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 (Central Luzon) said the operations on April 11 led to the arrest of two female suspects.
Members of the Regional Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Group 3 (RATTG 3), Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3 (RMFB 3), local police and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) arrested 36-year-old suspect, alias Melissa, in an entrapment inside a restaurant in Barangay Pulung Maragul at 4 p.m.
The suspect was caught in the act of offering women for sexual services in exchange for money. Twelve women were rescued at the scene.
A second operation followed at approximately 5:45 p.m. at a nearby restaurant, where law enforcers arrested alias Arianna. Five more women were rescued, all believed to have been recruited and exploited similarly.
Both suspects will be charged with violations of the Republic Act (RA) 9208, as amended by RA 10364, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.
The victims would undergo medical and psychological evaluations for their recovery and as part of legal proceedings. (PNA)
