A Danish national and his female assistant are facing human trafficking charges after they allegedly abused at least three children in barangay Tisa, Cebu City.
Nicola Jacobsen, 54, and Alona Tortosa were accused of violating Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.
When presented before Prosecutor Van Russel Inopiquez, the two respondents waived a preliminary investigation which could have given them the chance to submit a counter-affidavit and refute the allegations.
The case was elevated to the Regional Trial Court.
Since the victims were minors, the respondents were cited for qualified trafficking, a non-bailable offense.
Police swooped down on the residence of Jacobsen and rescued three girls aged 10, 11 and 12 after an entrapment Monday evening.
Jacobsen was accused of having sex with the girls and for operating a cyberporn business.
Laptop computers and cameras believed to have been used in in their alleged illicit activities were seized by the Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.
The 12-year-old victim earlier sought the help of the Women’s Desk of the Mandaue City Police Office after they were repeatedly exploited by Jacobsen last month, said Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
“She said they had intercourse with Jacobsen almost everyday last December and they were paid P1,500 to P2,000,” the prosecutor said.
Rabillas said the girls were also asked to perform lewd acts in front of web cameras.
Rabillas said the victims were recruited by Tortosa near the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.
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