4 minors rescued from sex traffickers in Lucena

LUCENA CITY – Police rescued four teenage girls from three suspected sex traffickers in an entrapment operation here Friday night.

Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, Quezon police chief, said parents of the rescued victims sought the help of the Pagbilao police for their missing daughters, who they believed were being exploited by the suspects on their sex trafficking trade.

Operatives from Lucena police and a Pagbilao social welfare officer launched an entrapment operation and arrested Oscar Ella, 68; Antonio Laredo, 57; and Baby Caroline Manalo, 38, in their respective residents in the city around 7 p.m.

The victims – aged 13, 15 and 17 – were rescued in the houses of Ella and Laredo. The minors pointed to Manalo as the one who had been pimping them to customers in exchange for money.

The other suspect, Candy Rose Rodriguez, evaded arrest and was now the subject of a police manhunt.

The victims were turned over to their parents.

The suspects are facing charges for alleged violation of the Anti-Human Trafficking in Persons Act.