By Jennifer P. Rendon
A 30-year-old woman tagged as Central Luzon’s most wanted person was arrested morning of April 4, 2023 in Pontevedra, Capiz.
Alma Bracamonte, a businesswoman from 1294 Laura St., Barangay Panginay, Balagtas, Bulacan, was collared at her temporary abode at Barangay Bailan, Pontevedra.
Members of Pontevedra Municipal Police Station, together with personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Detection and Special Operations Unit (CIDG-DSOU), CIDG-Iloilo, Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC)-Luzon Field Unit, 1st Capiz Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Capiz Highway Patrol Team, served to Bracamonte an arrest warrant issued against her two weeks ago.
Bracamonte was accused of violating Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) as amended by RA 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012) and further amended by 11862 (Qualified Trafficking in Persons) docketed under Criminal Case Nos. 110-SJDM-2023 to 112-SJDM-2023
Judge Ma. Cristina Geronimo Juanson of the Third Judicial Region, Family Court Branch 5 in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan issued the arrest warrant on March 16, 2023.
No bail was recommended for Bracamonte’s temporary liberty.
Major Syril Punzalan, Pontevedra police chief, said the suspect denied the accusations against her.
Bracamonte told police investigators that her mother-in-law was operating an internet shop in Bulacan.
Without her knowing, she claimed that young girls were being brought to their house and made to perform nudity and lewd acts online.
She claimed that her mother-in-law had foreigners as customers.
The operation was busted around July 2022. All of them in the family were subsequently charged.
Bracamonte later left the place and had been staying in some parts of the region, including Pototan, Iloilo.
She later sought refuge with the help of a relative in Pontevedra where she worked as a cafeteria attendant.
Bracamonte is now in the custody of Pontevedra PNP and will be turned over to the concerned court for the proper disposition of her case.
