More prostitution cases found in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has found more cases of prostitution among city residents displaced by fighting between government troops and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) forces more than a year ago.

“They are forced into prostitution, men, women, girls, boys,” Commissioner Jose Manuel Mamauag said. Worse, he said, those engaging in prostitution were getting younger.

Some were drug users, Mamauag added.

The CHR started looking into the plight of evacuees, formally called “internally displaced persons” (IDPs), at Don Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex here after the Inquirer reported the case of Karina, a mother who was forced into prostitution just to feed her family.

“When we started searching for this Karina … for some interventions, we discovered there are other Karinas and Karinos in that same situation,” Mamauag said.

The IDPs are among those who lost their homes due to the fighting between government troops and MNLF forces in September 2013.

As of February this year, the number of displaced families in nine transitory sites and two evacuation centers totaled 3,582 (19,855 persons). At the sports complex alone, there are still 1,234 families, or 7,108 persons.

Ramada Jose, who is among those staying at the sports complex, told the Inquirer that two young mothers, both age 17, had been removed from the master list of IDPs.

“They now roam around town. They sleep everywhere,” Jose said. The Inquirer learned that the two teenagers were driven out of the evacuation center.

When interviewed, the girls said they had no other choice but to engage in prostitution to earn a living.

Maria Socorro Roxas, city social welfare officer, said those who left the evacuation center or “transitory sites” (halfway shelters) were being removed from the master list.

Roxas said her office had been extending help to at least 13 prostituted men and women at the sports complex. She urged other prostituted men and women to report to the agency “so we can assist them.”

During his visit here on Jan. 25, President Aquino promised an additional P200 million for permanent housing, P400 million for sewerage facilities and P50 million as bridging fund.