Authorities have charged a Cebu woman with qualified human trafficking and large-scale illegal recruitment after three women allegedly recruited for housekeeping jobs in Armenia were stopped from leaving the Philippines.
The National Bureau of Investigation-Cebu District Office (NBI-CEBDO) identified the suspect as Mayeth Tacocong Gatchalian, who agents arrested in Richwood Subdivision, Compostela, Cebu, at around 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 27.
NBI-CEBDO chief Arnel Pura said Bureau of Immigration personnel intercepted the three women, aged 20 to 30, at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Aug. 26 as they prepared to travel to Hong Kong.
Investigators found that the women were allegedly recruited for housekeeping jobs in Armenia, where they were promised monthly salaries of P37,000.
Their travel documents indicated that they would travel to Hong Kong, with round-trip tickets, hotel reservations and an itinerary for the trip.
The NBI, however, said investigators found that the women were allegedly expected to proceed to Armenia after arriving in Hong Kong.
The agency said the Hong Kong itinerary was allegedly used to make the women appear as tourists and facilitate their departure from the Philippines.
According to the investigation, Gatchalian allegedly recruited the three women through direct hiring and arranged their travel requirements, including airline tickets, accommodations and itinerary.
Pura said Gatchalian had previously worked as a contract worker in Armenia. The NBI continues to determine the extent and duration of her alleged recruitment activities.
After immigration authorities referred the three women to the NBI for investigation, agents from the NBI-CEBDO and NBI-Central Visayas Regional Office launched a hot pursuit operation to locate Gatchalian.
Agents arrested her the following day and brought her to the NBI office for booking, fingerprinting and photographing.
The NBI filed charges against Gatchalian on Sept. 1 before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Mandaue City.
She faces a complaint for qualified trafficking in persons under Section 4(a) of Republic Act 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended, in relation to Section 6(c), as well as large-scale illegal recruitment under Section 5 of Republic Act 10022.
The case underwent inquest proceedings, while Gatchalian remains detained at the NBI-CEBDO pending preliminary investigation.
Gatchalian declined to comment when approached by members of the media while in NBI custody.
Authorities have not publicly identified the three women.
Photo by VCL
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