Bar dancers rescued; Aussie also arrested
At least 17 female dancers including a 17-year-old girl who were rescued from a night club in Cebu City were turned over to social workers at 12 a.m. last Saturday.
Social worker Maria Gemma Ompad told Cebu Daily News that the female dancers who worked at the Sister’s Bar in Gen. Maxilom Avenue come from Cebu City, Negros Oriental, Camotes Island, Dalaguete and Moalboal towns.
The turnover came amid last Friday’s arrest by Cebu City police of a 50-year-old Australian accused of molesting three boys in a hotel last year. The Australian was presented in court yesterday.
In a phone interview, Ompad said 15 women claimed to be adults and only one admitted that she was below 18 years old.
They have yet to verify reports that there were five minors in the group.
The manager and cashier face human trafficking charges and were given 15 days to submit their counter-affidavits.
Ompad said most of the women worked in the bar for about a year, while the teenage girl admitted working there for several weeks.
Ompad said the women wore skimpy shorts, makeup and sleeveless blouses when they arrived at the DSWD.
Most of them graduated from high school while the 17-year-old only finished third year high school.
“They said they earn P200 a night and they dance from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. They also earn P60 for every ladies drink sold.” Ompad said.
The 17-year-old girl said her parents were unemployed.
“Some of them (rescued women) admitted that they have kids, some have live-in partners who are unemployed, some of them ran away from home and came from a broken family.” Ompad said.
Ompad said the women were rescued by police from the bar last Friday night after receiving a tip that they were victims of human trafficking.
Eight women were discharged yesterday afternoon after they submitted documents certifying that they were adults.
Nine women including the minor remained under their custody.
“They were complaining when they arrived in DSWD because they lost their jobs. They said they have families feed),” Ompad said.
She said they admitted that they applied for work in the bar and they were not recruited.
Ompad said they will assist the women who wanted to continue their studies.
“If they plan to continue their studies, we will recommend them. We have educational programs,” Ompad said.
In a related development, the 50-year-old Australian was presented to Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6 who issued the arrest warrant against him.
He will remain in the Cebu City jail pending trial.
Six counts of qualified trafficking and child abuse charges were filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against him. The offense for qualified trafficking is non-bailable.
Lawyer Andrey Sawchenko, national director of the International Justice Mission Philippines, was elated with the Australian’s arrest.
“This kind of law enforcement action provides real protection to the most vulnerable among us,” Sawchenko said in a text message sent to Cebu Daily News.
The trafficking and abuse charges were previously dismissed by the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office whose decision was overturned by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
De Lima said “the accused took advantage of the victim’s vulnerability by dangling money to them for their services” and questioned the decision to drop the charges against the Australian.
Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 has a confidentiality provision that prohibits the identification of the accused and victims in human trafficking cases.
The charges were deemed qualified trafficking since the victims were minors.
One of the six charges filed against him was also considered “large scale trafficking” since the offense was committed against “three or more persons.” Ador Vincent Mayol and Rhea Ruth V. Rosell, Reporters
