LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Provincial director Rodolfo Azurin said police are continuously monitoring bars in the province in a bid to protect minors.
Azurin said the police are working with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-North Central Cordillera, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera and Local Government Units to keep an eye on nighttime establishments in the province to check if minors are being employed.
Recently, 17 bar girls, mostly minors, were rescued from girlie bars in Abatan, Buguias town.
Police with DSWD and CIDG officials were informed about the minors working in various bars.
DSWD records show the youngest rescued girl was 14 while the oldest was 21. The other women who were managers, handlers, establishment cashiers voluntarily went with the authorities.
Six of the girls were from San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan; one from San Rafael, also in Bulacan; four from Region 1 (Ilocos Sur; Alaminos, Pangasinan; San Gabriel, La Union and Agoo, also in La Union); six from Cordillera (three from Mankayan, Benguet; one from Paracelis, Mt. Province; one from Bauko, Mt. Province; and one from Itogon, Benguet).
The DSWD said the minors will be turned over to their parents while the bar managers and handlers of the ladies will be facing charges.
Night spots are abloom in the town owing it to being a commercial center in Northern Benguet for vegetable traders and mining in nearby Mankayan town.
Azurin said the police are part of the program of the DSWD to keep minors of the nighttime establishments and prevent human trafficking activities.