Cordova couple charged for trafficking of minors

CHARGES of human trafficking were filed yesterday against the teenage mother and her live-in partner accused of using children for cyberpornography in Cordova town, Cebu.

Jaimie, 18, and her 22-year-old live-in partner Arnold (not their real names) were charged with violating Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 in relation to Republic Act 10364 or the “Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

They were also charged for violating Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.

Since all five victims are minors, the offense falls under qualified trafficking, a non-bailable case.

The couple covers their faces with towels after leaving the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office where they underwent preliminary investigation. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

When presented before Asst. Provincial Prosecutor Maryn Ann Dimano, Jaimie and Arnold underwent preliminary investigation.

Dimano said she gave the respondents 15 days to submit their counter-affidavits.

While the law allows the media to identify the suspects of human trafficking, Cebu Daily News is withholding the names of the two respondents to protect the identities of the victims who are their relatives.

Jaimie and Arnold were arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last Saturday afternoon after the agency and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) were tipped off by the US Department of Homeland Security regarding their involvement in cyberpornography.

NBI-7 Asst. Regional Director Augusto Isidoro said Jaimie’s clients have been arrested in the US, and the Homeland Security traced the pornographic materials recovered from the suspects to Cebu.

Isidoro said the Department of Homeland Security forwarded all pieces of evidence, including the lewd photos and videos of the victims, to the IACAT and then to the NBI central office in Manila.

A poseur customer transacted with Jaimie who accepted the request to have her niece perform lewd actions online for $60.

The money was sent through a money transfer service in Cebu and was received by Jaimie days ago.

With the assistance of the NBI-7 agents, the Manila operatives arrested Jaimie at her home in Cogon, Cordova and later her live-in partner at the Mactan Economic Zone.

The NBI caught Jaimie talking with her online American client on her mobile phone while her 10-year-old niece posed naked. Four other children aged 5 to 12 were rescued by the NBI.

Jaimie admitted exposing her niece to cyberpornography. She said she also posed naked in front of her cell phone’s camera for a fee.

Jaimie said she badly needs money to buy milk for her one-year-old son.

She said she’s been into cyberpornography for about a year.

Her live-in partner Arnold claimed he didn’t know she was involved in cyberpornography.

Senor Supt. Noel Gillamac, Cebu provincial police chief, said they have been vigilant against trafficking which sprang up in areas struck by supertyphoon Yolanda.

“There are indicators like in areas where poor families are in. Those who are devastated by the typhoon or calamities are vulnerable,” he said.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said he always reminds barangay officials to crack down on cyber porn dens.

“Each barangay (village) has a monitoring team but they only have limited capability. They rely on word of mouth and then report it to the police or the NBI,” he said.

Sitoy said they have an ordinance that will revoke the business permits of money couriers that fail to report on transactions tied to trafficking activities to the police.