By: Jennifer P. Rendon
THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 6 (CIDG) vowed to topple prostitution in the region.
Police Colonel Police Colonel Benliner Capili, CIDG regional director, made the declaration after the arrest of two suspected pimps in Iloilo City late evening of Oct. 25, 2019.
“Expect more operations ‘pag hindi pa sila tumigil. Kawawa naman mga babae,” Capili said, as he pointed out the rising HIV cases in Iloilo City.
He said they have identified some areas where these prostitution activities are allegedly rampant.
During the operation around 11:15 p.m. of Friday, members of CIDG, together with police personnel from Iloilo City Police Station 1 and representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), suspects Jimmy Cuarte, 56, of Cabatuan, Iloilo and Ramil Dequiña, 24, of Iloilo City, were arrested.
Police Major James Allen Dogao, CIDG – Iloilo City field unit chief, said they had an undercover policeman transact with the suspects.
They allegedly agreed for P1,500 for each lady.
Subsequently, the two were arrested and 10 women were rescued.
Dogao said the 10 women were between 23 and 32 years old.
During the interrogation, Cuarte allegedly kept his silence claiming he was a stroke survivor.
“But we managed to get information of their headquarters, where they allegedly housed other women,” Dogao said.
The rescued women were placed in DSWD – Iloilo City custody while the two suspects are detained and would be charged for violation of Republic Act 9208 as amended by RA 10364
(Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012).
