Government should act decisively against human trafficking– Gabriela

Government should act decisively against human trafficking– Gabriela

“The growing poverty, unemployment and landless in our country exponentially increase the vulnerability of women and children to sex trafficking.” – Rep. Luz Ilagan, Gabriela Women’s Party
By INA ALLECO SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

Last Valentine’s day February 14, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luz Ilagan called attention to the issue of human trafficking, saying that a mere four days previously, the Gabriela rescued eight women from a bar owned by a Korean national in Baguio City.

According to a report by Northern Dispatch, an alternative news agency based in Baguio City, the women arrived in Baguio on Feb. 1, three of them were minors and all eight coming from various rural poor areas in Mindanao. They were reportedly recruited by a certain Korean named Nora Chang who promised P10,000 ($232) in advanced salaries to each of the women’s families.

Ilagan said the women discovered that the recruiter received P130,000 ($3,023) from the owner of the newly-opened bar in Baguio City, but she did not give the promised P10,000 ($232) to the families they left behind.

From Feb. 1 to the day they were rescued, each victim was given an allowance of P150 ($3.48), but P50 ($1.16) was withheld as payment for their “costumes” and the remaining P100 $2.32) was allotted for their food. They were, however, unable to buy food because they were not allowed to leave the bar’s premises and they were locked inside from from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Only when they were brought to the bar in the afternoon could they have a meal..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/02/16/government-should-act-decisively-against-human-trafficking%E2%80%93-gabriela/