News Briefs

Charges against trafficking suspects

HUMAN trafficking charges were filed against five persons accused of recruiting 35 women and eight girls for a karaoke TV bar in Lapu-Lapu City.

The complaint was lodged before the Lapu-Lapu Prosecutors’ Office last Friday.

The special law’s confidentiality provisions prohibit the identification of both the victims and the accused in the media.

Three alleged pimps, a cashier and the Korean manager were arrested by the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) and the Regional Anti-Human Task Force.

The respondents were given 15 days to file their counter-affidavits.

Police rescued last Wednesday evening 35 women and eight girls inside a KTV bar in Lapu-Lapu City.

The police were accompanied by officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) as they barged inside the White Castle KTV past 10 am.

The victims were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7).

The minors were aged 16 to 18 while the women are in their early 20s.

The International Justice Mission (IJM) is helping law enforcers prepare the complaint against the suspects.

The suspects are detained inside the detention facility of the Waterfront police station in Cebu City.

RID’s Senior Insp. Maria Theresa Macatangay said they received  reports that the customers paid for sex with the victims at P4,000 to P5,000 per session.

She said the victims came from Manila, Davao, Subic and Cebu. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

Complaint over charges

THE majority bloc of the Talisay City Council complained over the charges filed against them by a couple whose commercial establishment was ordered closed by the city government.

In a resolution approved recently, the council said the charges filed by the Nacario couple should include all of them and not just those identified with the incumbent administration.

The Nacario trade center owned by Dr. Jesus and Dr. Nieves Nacario is a commercial establishment near the Talisay City’s old market where some of the market’s former occupants rented space.

The couple filed a civil case against nine administration members of the council before the Regional Trial Court- Branch 12 for approving the mayor’s order to close the center last November.

The administration councilors passed a resolution requiring the Nacarios to comply with the application for building permits that was part of the compromise agreement presented by the court.

Councilor Edward Alesna said the commercial building has been operating without a building permit for seven years now.

Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez issued an order for the closure of the establishment.

The opposition councilors led by Councilor Romeo Villarante opposed Alesna’s resolution stating that they were not even given the time to review it.

Despite this, the majority bloc passed the resolution. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

Medical equipment for islands

A LAPU-LAPU City councilor who’s also a practicing doctor asked Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza to provide medical equipment and supplies to Olango Island and other neighboring islets.

Councilor Alexander Gestopa Jr., who represents Olango island and the neighboring islets, said the supplies and facilities are needed by day care workers for patients needing immediate medical attention.

He said many patients from the island were reluctant to make the long travel to hospitals in the mainland. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza