Mandaue gov’t to go after trafficking havens

The city government of Mandaue is cracking down on bars after six minors recruited were rescued from alleged human traffickers in the last two weeks.
Councilor Nenita Layese said bars, especially those in A.C. Cortes Street in barangay Maguikay, will face closure if they are caught offering lewd shows and hiring minors.
Layese who is chairperson of the City Council committee on women and family affairs said they will also intensify information and education campaign in areas where they suspect human trafficking is happening like in barangay Subangdaku, Tipolo, Cambary, Umapad, Opao, Paknaan and Guizo.
Meanwhile, the two minors rescued in Tibiao, Antique last Saturday have undergone counseling said Edna Regudo, social worker of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The counseling will continue to help shape the moral values of the girls, aged 14 and 17. The two were recruited to work as baby sitters in Antique but ended up in prostitution. Arrested during their rescue was Virginia Amar, alleged owner of the brothel where the two were allegedly trafficked.
“Mga inosente man gud ni sila. They are the ones who are very vulnerable to exploitation kay dili pa man sila kahibaw gyud unsaon pagtimbang sa kung unsay angay buhaton, sa dili [They are still innocent. They are very vulnerable to be exploited because they still have the difficulty to weigh things on what is right and wrong], Regudo added.
Two weeks ago, authorities rescued four Mandauehanon boys, aged nine to 14 from alleged Australian human trafficker Hilton Munro in a beach resort in Compostela town./Jucell Marie P. Cuyos with reports from Joy Cherry Quito