MANILA — Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested three persons for human trafficking and rescued four women in Tanay, Rizal.
In a statement Wednesday, NBI Director Dante A. Gierran identified the suspects as Fernando Padua, Jose Ademar Padua, and Rowena Jesuitaz Valdez — the alleged owner, operation manager, and cashier of Keno Lodge respectively.
Gierran said the case stemmed from a tip received by NBI-Rizal District Office that Keno Lodge is engaged in illicit sex trade of women, who are said to be mostly minors.
According to the information, Keno Lodge receives male guests in their hotel/motel not as transients but as regular customers of women who are being offered as prostitutes and will cater sexual services for a fee of PHP1,000.
Series of surveillance operations conducted confirmed the information received. Subsequently, in coordination with the Provincial DSWD Social Workers, an entrapment operation was conducted on Feb. 13, resulting in the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of four women, two of whom are minors.
The said minors, in their sworn statements, said their work is to give sexual favors to customers being introduced and brought to them by Valdez.
A room boy of Keno Lodge, who is a witness to the crime, said in his sworn statement that Padua knows about the illegal sex trade going on in his establishment but chose not to do anything about it.
The three arrested persons were presented for inquest before the Associate Rizal Provincial Prosecutor for violations of RA 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) as amended by RA 10364 and violation of R.A. 7610 (Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act). (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
