Who's To Blame?

MANILA, Nov. 28 (PNA) -- The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the International Justice Mission (IJM) are glad to announce the latest conviction of a human trafficking case promulgated Thursday, November 27 in Paranaque City.

According to the decision penned by Judge Jaime M. Guray of the Regional Trial Court of Paranaque City Branch 260, Charmela Barrameda, Roberto Acuin a.k.a. "Wowie", Salvacion Alamares, and Gina Ajero were convicted for the crime of Qualified Trafficking in Person.

The four accused were convicted for victimizing minor girls, with ages ranging from 14-16 years old. The victims had been sexually exploited and were made to work as prostitutes by the accused.

One of the four complainants was promised the job of a cashier, while the other three were told they would work as group dancers. Instead, they all ended up as GROs in a videoke club and were forced to engage in acts of prostitution. They also were not brought to Laguna as agreed, but instead to Daraga, Albay. The victims were never allowed to leave the videoke club, until they were rescued by the NBI Anti-Human Trafficking Division.

The court found the accused, Salvacion Alamares and Gina Ajero guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208 and were sentenced to each suffer the penalty of imprisonment of 20 years and to each pay a fine of one million pesos.

An alias warrant of arrest was issued for Robert Acuin a.k.a. Wowie, and Charmela Barrameda.

This is the 12th conviction recorded by IACAT. Being the body created by law to coordinate and monitor the implementation of RA 9208, otherwise known as the "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003", the IACAT is monitoring about 600 other cases of human trafficking.

The IJM was steadfast in its support for the Philippine government in terms of fighting human trafficking. Since 2001, the IJM has been engaged in aggressive campaign against sex trafficking in the Philippines.

IACAT acting chairman Ricardo R. Blancaflor is thanking DOJ prosecutors and the NBI for their diligent work, and he expressed hopes that the same amount of preparations and efforts will be made in future human trafficking cases.

"Let this be a warning also against human traffickers that their glory days are over, and they must immediately stop. Whether here or abroad, the IACAT will not leave any stone unturned in its efforts to fight the crime of human trafficking", Blancaflor said. (PNA)


Reaction(s): Midterm

Child prostitution now days are very famous not just here in Philippines but in the whole world. Sad to say, most parents of this youth are the one who are responsible of this thing. They let their children engage in this matter for the reason of the economy of this country. I can barely say that governments are the most responsible on this because if they give enough work for the parents of this youth they will not let their children engage in this thing. This problem is made because of the difficulty in money and knowing that youth are very sensitive that they will do things that can help for their parents’ weather it is bad or good.

I can’t take this problem on my own and I can afford to see those youth working as sex slave. I myself am a youth and a student and I am very lucky to have a stable life that I will not take this thing as a job. When I first read this article I felt so disgusting and I felt the pity on my skin. Children are supposed to be on school and not on street and making on their thing. They supposed to play with their companion and to bond with their parents. If only government can give work for every parent I know young will not live in this life. Well, I can’t judge them according to their work. We have no right. I know the situation of our country of how cruel our economy, I can’t blame them because I know like me they also their dreams.

Aside from the fact that they used to do this because of their financial problem, we should also consider the background of the child. According to the study some of them are children who lived in streets and consider prostitution as their main living. Parents should take care of their children but what they did is that they sold their children to the foreigner for them to sustain their vices.