While the government is faced with the emergency health crisis brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), two human traffickers were arrested by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Quezon City on Tuesday, in line with the relentless campaign of the government against exploitation of women and children.
NBI Officer-In-Charge Eric Distor identified the suspects as Maricole Ramos and Alexander Peralta who were apprehended by agents of the NBI-Anti Human Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD) in an entrapment and rescue operation in an apartelle in Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City.
Ramos and Peralta were charged before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City via online for violation of Republic Act 9208, otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by R.A. 10364 sec 4 par (a) in relation to Sec 6 par (a) (Qualified Trafficking in Persons by Minority and violation of R.A. 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act) since both suspects do not have quarantine pass.
Distor said that in the course of the operation, a 17-year old and an 18-year old trafficked victims were rescued and had been placed under the custody of the Social workers. Distor said the case stemmed from an intelligence report received by the NBI-AHTRAD on April 30, 2020 that a certain individual has been recruiting and offering minor girls for sexual exploitation to clients for a fee.
The report further disclosed that suspect Ramos has a Facebook account with name Maricole Ramos II (Marrieon Kyle) who allegedly offers young girls ages 14-21 years old for sexual services to customers for a fee of P3,000.00 and has been using Trivago, Airbnb and similar platforms to book accommodations (hotels, condominium, penthouse, apartelle) where supposed child trafficking may take place.