8 women rescued from suspected trafficker catering to foreigners

Eight women were rescued yesterday morning from the hands of a suspected pimp whom authorities said has been catering to foreigners in the outskirts of southern Cebu.

Police from the Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and Regional Intelligence Division arrested Jenvie Cabaluna after allegedly receiving P27,000 in marked money from a decoy who posed as a customer in barangay Poblacion in Moalboal town. The money was allegedly meant as payment for the victims’ sexual services.

Cabaluna, who was detained at the Fuente Police Station of the Cebu City Police Office, is scheduled to be taken to the prosecutor’s office today where a complaint for violation of the Anti-Human Trafficking in Persons Act will be filed against her.

Senior Insp. Maria Theresa Macatangay, leader of the raiding team, said the 29-year-old Cabaluna has been under surveillance after authorities were tipped off of her illegal activities. They alleged that she has been into the illegal trade for the last 10 years, a claim which Cabaluna vehemently denies.

The rescued women, which included a deaf-mute and a minor, were taken into custody by the regional Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) where they will be debriefed and subjected to counselling.

Inspector Macatangay said one of the rescued victims admitted that she was just 17  years old, but they suspect that two others were also minors based on their built. The victims will be subjected to medical and dental tests to determine their health condition and age.

“Wala sila ni-admit nga minors sila, but the same procedure will be conducted to  check their age,” she told Cebu Daily News.

Government social workers will also be locating the victims’  parents in Danao, Lilo-an, Moalboal and Alcantara.

Well-known

Police said Cabaluna’s client base is widespread with transactions arranged  as far as Bohol.

“She only deals with foreign people,” Macatangay said.

Police said the trafficked women’s services are offered for P3,000-P3,500 each with Cabaluna allegedly pocketing as much as half of the amount paid.

“She will wait for the women. Kung dili mahuman kay dili pud niya ihatag ang commission nila (She won’t give their share until after they finish servicing their clients),” Macatangay said.

Cabaluna denied allegations that she was pimping the women.

“Dili na tinuod. Gi-invite ra mi ug laag unya wa mi nag-expect nga ing-ato diay ang sitwasyon (That’s not true. We were just invited to go out with them and we did not expect that it would lead to this situation),” she told reporters.

She said she was inside the van when the police arrested her.

“Wala man mi na-caught in the act sa mga hotels. Naa ra mi sa sulod sa van (We were not caught inside a hotel. We were just inside the van,” she added.

Cabaluna claimed the rescued women were just visiting the town.

“Ang istorya man gud ana kay ako may amigo sa mga guests gud. Unya ako may giingnan nila if naa ba koy mga amiga nga makuyog. Didto sila gapuyo sa balay sa amiga pud nako, (The story is that the foreign guests were my friends and they asked me if I have some friends who could join us. The women live in my friend’s house), she said.