THREE minor girls on their way to Cebu City to supposedly work in small town lottery (STL) outlets were intercepted by Maritime Police at the Macabalan Port in Cagayan de Oro City Tuesday evening, November 14.
The three minors, aged 15 and 17, were on their way to board a Cebu-bound ferry with 19 other adults when they were held by authorities.
Chief Inspector Pedro Gorre Jr., chief of the 1001st Maritime Police Station (Marpsta) based in Barangay Macabalan, said the 22 passengers were composed of six males and 16 females.
"Medyo ta naalarma pagkakita nato sa tulo ka mga minor nga babaye diha sa inspection kay mangayo man ta og mga ID busa ato silang gi-hold (We were alarmed upon seeing the minors that's why we held them)," Gorre said.
Gorre said all of them came from Digos City, Davao del Sur and were allegedly recruited by a certain 'Josephine'.
Gorre said the recruitment of minors to work for someone in exchange of money may fall under the elements of child trafficking.
However, the Marpsta commander said all the adults have been released while the three minors were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for custody.
Gorre added the DSWD would be the one to initiate the filing of the case against the recruiter.
Charmaine Tadlas, spokesperson of DSWD-Northern Mindanao, said the minors will be held under their care and will be assess by social workers.
Tadlas said the social welfare office will press child trafficking charges against the recruiter if the minors' rights are found to have been violated.
"Kung makita nga naay signs of abuse or nalapasan ang rights sa mga bata ug ma confirm nga naa gyud trafficking nahitabo mo-file og case ang DSWD pero ipaagi nato ni sa assessment and investigation (If signs of abuse is found or their rights were violated and if we confirm the grounds of trafficking then we will file a case. But it will pass a thorough investigation),"Tadlas said.
Tadlas also said the DSWD will also coordinate with the authorities in Digos City to identify the recruiter and locate her whereabouts.
"Naa man tay facility for victims sa child trafficking, didto sa sila while gi-process ang ilang kaso (We have the facility for the victims of child trafficking. They will be under our care while we process the case),"Tadlas added.