Lavisto, upon orders of Bohol PNP Director Police Senior Superintendent Dennis P. Agustin, got wind of the plight of the 17-year old girl from Butuan City during an anti-human trafficking seminar he had attended. He said a source had tipped him off that Solid Gold Bar has been engaging in human trafficking. Sources said Lavisto and his SWAT men have been tailing the ins and outs of “sex slaves†at Solid Gold Bar since last year. “We had to complete first all the legal procedures and requirements before we conducted this raid,†Lavisto said. “We believe that we got is just a tip of the iceberg.†Witnessing the inventory of the raid were provincial DOLE head Gerry Guidaben, provincial DSWD head Carmelita Tecson, members of Bohol media, and two barangay officials of Albur. Guidaben, in an interview over station DYTR and DYRD's Tagbilaran-By-Nite, has called on the public to be vigilant over illegal recruitment. The DOLE chief said that the despicable act of human trafficking may masquerade as good job offers. “Kinahanglan magbantay ta ug mag-amping ta sa mga tawo nga motanyag ug trabaho nga dili ta segurado sa kapadulngan. Ang atong buhatan sa DOLE kanunay nga bukas alang sa inyong mga pangutana,†Guidaben said over the radio.
Tecson said the DSWD would conduct a debriefing on the rescued girls. She said the DSWD, as the leading agency that protects the plight of trafficked young women, will closely coordinate with the Bohol PNP in the investigation and in the filing of appropriate charges against the perpetrators of human trafficking and prostitution. Meanwhile, Col. Agustin has warned illegal recruiters and human traffickers that the Bohol Police Provincial Office would use the might of the law in order to spare Bohol from becoming a dumpsite of “sex slaves†from Mindanao, or any part of the country for that matter. Agustin, who has ordered daily raids and buy-busts on illegal drug peddlers all over Bohol, has called on the Boholano people and all the officials of Bohol to help the police in sustaining the peace and order situation here and in protecting the province from the clout of criminals. “Alagaan natin ang Bohol. Isa lang ang Bohol. Kasama tayong lahat na itaguyod ang kapayapaan at kabutihan sa buong probinsya natin,†Agustin told the media during an earlier interview. Meanwhile, City Administrator Borja said that the city government would not tolerate any illegal operation involving minors. “The administration of City Mayor Baba Yap, in cooperation with the City Police Office led by Police Supt. Jovito Atanacio, will not allow human traffickers to thrive in Tagbilaran,†Borja said in an interview. “We are going to conduct more investigations into this kind of entertainment, and rest assured that we will not allow Tagbilaran become a haven of sex slaves,†Borja said.
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