A 14-year-old girl was rescued in a police-led entrapment operation from an alleged human trafficking scheme at a hotel in Binondo, Manila, the Manila Police District (MPD) reported on Tuesday, June 24.
The operation, conducted on June 20, was led by the Women and Children Concern Section (WCCS) of the District Investigation and Detective Management Division, in coordination with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) Office and Meisic Police Station (PS-11).
The victim, a resident of Caloocan City, was accompanied by her mother when they approached WCCS on June 13 to report that the child had allegedly been prostituted by an 18-year-old woman in exchange for money.
Police said the suspect had been arranging bookings with paying clients for the minor, including a Chinese national.
Following the report, the victim underwent medical and psychological examinations at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and was placed under MSWD protective custody.
On June 19, the suspect allegedly contacted the victim again to inform her of an upcoming booking the next day, prompting WCCS to prepare an entrapment operation.
Her messages indicated that the client, identified as Wenlang Xu, 42, a Chinese national residing in Binondo, requested two girls.
To protect the victim, a WCCS personnel posed as a second minor.
The police operation was launched on June 20 at around 5:30 p.m.
The arrest and rescue was carried out around 7:30 p.m.at Room 6006 in Le Chambre Hotel, in coordination with the building administration.
The suspect and the Chinese national were arrested on site. Mobile phones used to facilitate the alleged trafficking were seized.
The suspects were informed of their constitutional rights in a language they understood before being brought to Gat Andres Hospital for medical examination.
Charges for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act are being prepared against the suspects, who are currently in police custody. (Diann Calucin)
