Girl, 13 sold for sex by mother
For P200 to P500, 13-year-old Christine (not her real name) was forced by her mother to have sex with male customers in her native place in Tabogon town, north Cebu.
In the privacy of their home, her mother purportedly watched Christine who was helplessly exploited by a customer.
Her mother, at one time, held Christine at knifepoint as she was being sexually abused.
Christine had no other options but to give herself to customers otherwise her mother would kill her.
In one instance, she said her mother slit her arm with a scissor, beat her with a piece of wood, punched her mouth and kicked her whenever she refuses to accept customers.
“Gidagmalan ko ni mama kay dili man ko magpagamit sa tawo nga mipalit nako. (My mother inflicted physical harm on me because I refused to have sex or perform lewd acts with a male customer),” Christine said in her sworn statement a copy of which was obtained by Cebu Daily News.
Last February 4, her mother personally saw a customer performing lewd acts on her. Christine said her mother received P500 for the “service”.
The girl said she was again used by another man last February 18,. Christine said she tried to escape but her mother held her legs, got a knife and threatened to kill her. She said she saw her mother received P200 from the man.
Christine said she had apprehensions in reporting to authorities what was done to her since she was afraid that her mother would kill her.
When she could no longer bear the pain inflicted by her own mother, Christine sought the help of their barangay captain, Amancia Quinain.
In her affidavit, Quinain said she was having breakfast when Christine went to her house.
“I was shocked upon noticing Christine. She got inside the house, sobbing helplessly and blood was dripping from her lips and arms. Bruises were inflicted to different parts of her body,” she said.
Her 40-year-old mother Lucy (not her real name) was arrested by policemen last Wednesday.
When brought before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors' Office, Lucy chose not to undergo preliminary investigation which could have given her a chance to submit a counter-affidavit and refute the allegations.
This prompted Cebu Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Petronio Elesterio to elevate to the trial court the charges for violating Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
Lucy will face trial before the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City.
No bail
The child abuse charges filed against the accused have a recommended bail of P80,000. But Lucy will remain in jail since she's confronted with another case of qualified trafficking, a non-bailable offense.
An offense is considered “qualified trafficking” if the victim is a child and “when the offender is an ascendant, parent , sibling, guardian or a person who exercises authority over the trafficked person or when the offense is committed by a public officer or employee.”
Under this special law, a person who shall “recruit, transport , transfer, harbor, provide or receives a person” for prostitution or forced labor is liable for human trafficking.
If convicted, a person found guilty of qualified trafficking faces life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to P5 million.
The recently signed Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 allows the identification of human trafficking offenders in the media.
But since the accused in this case is the victim's mother, Cebu Daily News has withheld the identity of both individuals.
In her sworn statement, Christine said her parents had separated. Since then, she stayed with her mother in Tabogon while her father went home to Camotes. Her elder sister got married and has moved to Mandaue City.
Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas, one of the members of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), was saddened by the recent case of human trafficking in Cebu.
“It's not an isolated case. It saddens me a lot. I am a mother too. It is a big sin against God to sell other people. How much more if you sell your own child? It's not worth it. How much money will they get compared to the penalty that shall be imposed against them?,” she told Cebu Daily News.
Rabillas said the government will continue to intensify its campaign against human trafficking.
“The government is really serious in combatting human trafficking. Law enforcers and government agencies are closely working with each other to minimize if not eradicate human trafficking,” she said.
Last April 17, the NBI arrested an Australian man for purportedly hiring several women to have sex with him and to perform lewd activities infront of video cameras. At least 15 women, including minors, were rescued inside an apartment which is believed to be a cybersex den in barangay Labangon, Cebu City.
Last month, two women were arrested at the Mactan Cebu International Airport for recruting a woman and a minor o work as dancers and prostitutes in Bacoor, Cavite. /Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter