Police arrest illegal recruiter

POLICEMEN backed by military intelligence personnel have arrested a suspected illegal recruiter in an entrapment operation in this southern port city, a police official disclosed Saturday.

The arrest was made barely three days after combined police and inter-agency task force has arrested a Manila-based illegal recruiter and rescued 17 victims of human trafficking in this city.

Zamboanga City Police Director Edwin de Ocampo said the suspect was arrested shortly after noon time Thursday in the village of Tumaga, north of this city.

De Ocampo identified the suspect as Corazon Manuel, a resident of Masuhud Drive, Tumaga.

Prior to her arrest, De Ocampo said the military intelligence agents informed his office about a suspected illegal recruiter enlisting young women to work as bar girls in Malaysia.

Personnel from the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of the local police office have discussed plans together with the military intelligence operatives and decided to launch an entrapment operation, De Ocampo said.

He said the group proceeded to Manuel's residence with a policewoman from the WCPD and two other female companions who pretended to be applicants and set up the entrapment operation that resulted to the suspect's arrest.

The suspect was detained after she was taken Friday for inquest proceedings before the City Prosecutor's Office, he said.

The suspect's arrest in Tumaga village was the second alleged illegal recruiter arrested this week by the police in this city.

First to be arrested was Edrin Palomania, 42, of 395, Zone IV, Fort Bonifacio village, Taguig City.

Palomania was arrest last Monday at a rented house in Villa Sta. Maria, Sta. Maria village, north of this city, by the WCPD personnel backed by members of the Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force.

They have rescued at the same time 17 illegal recruitment victims, who are all from Luzon.