Councilor urges probe on alleged ‘sex slavery’

BACOLOD City Councilor Em Legaspi-Ang filed a resolution urging the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), and the Women's and Children's Desk to probe the alleged sex slavery involving minors from Bacolod.

Legaspi-Ang is the chairperson of the committee on Social Services and Gender and Development.

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Dumangas, Iloilo Mayor Ronaldo Golez reported to Bacolod City officials that teenagers from Bacolod City and, presumably, from Negros Occidental arrive daily via the 'roll-on, roll off' (Roro) vessels at the Dumangas port.

Golez opined that the minors, who are accompanied by adults, might have been brought to Panay Island to engage in prostitution and become 'sex slaves'.

The female minors were offered work like entertainers in bars and videoke joints but they allegedly end up in prostitution.

It is possible that these girls were misled by adults who may be exploiting or forcing them to work in such situations which are hazardous to their health, safety and morals, Legaspi-Ang stressed.

If such is the case, those minors need to be rescued and the adults who led them to harm have to be prosecuted, the lady councilor added.

The DSSD and the Women's and Children's Desk and other related agencies are mandated to protect, rescue and rehabilitate children that are trafficked into prostitution or forced to work in dangerous situations that may hamper their normal development.(Carla N. Cañet)