A MAN will have to face court trial after the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office founded probable cause to sue him for selling a minor into prostitution using an internet application called WeChat.
Prosecutor Mariza De Los Santos-Jaugan recommended the filing of charges against Vidal Calio Baclaan Jr. for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10364, also known as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 in relation to RA 7610 otherwise known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act which was committed through and by the use of Information and Communication Technology pursuant to the Section 6 of Republic Act 1075 known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Based on the resolution, authorities from the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group-Davao conducted an entrapment operation against the Baclaan after he tried to sell a 16-year-old girl for sex through the use of WeChat, an internet application that allows instant messaging.
The Anti-Cybercrime Group-Davao established contact with the suspect around 7 p.m., September 20, and set him up in an entrapment operation where he was going to bring the young girl to a police officer who posed as a customer in exchange for P3,000.
The parties agreed to meet at a drive-in along Ecoland Drive in Matina, Davao City.
Baclaan was arrested after accepting cash from the undercover agent as payment for the transaction.
Operatives were able to confiscate three pieces of P100 bills used as marked money placed on top of paper cut to the size of a peso bill to make it appear that there were P3,000 in all, a Samsung phone, and an Iphone from Baclaan’s possession.
Baclaan, with the assistance of the Public Attorney’s office, did not avail of his right for preliminary investigation.
Prosecutor Jaugan directed the police officers to coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the temporary custody and appropriate housing and counseling of the girl.