Woman in slavery, child prostitution raps fall
Iloilo -- City cops arrested Tuesday a woman wanted for slavery, child prostitution and other sexual abuses in a successful police operation inside a local hotel here.
Armed with an arrest warrant issued by Judge Jesus dela Peña of Branch 61, 7th RTC in Cebu, Nora Bragancia failed to elude operatives of Police Precinct 1 (PPI). The arrest warrant further named two other accomplices even as validation is being made on yet more associates based in Iloilo City.
In an interview, police precint 1 (PP 1) Commander P/Inspector Dande Deocampo told The News Today (TNT) that Bragancia's arrest came after PP1 was tipped of her arrival. SPO4 Fred Blones and SPO3 Alfredo Flores with two other police officers were tasked to effect the arrest and in minutes, came back with the woman suspect. The two others were not in the area when the operation was conducted in one of the rooms of Madia-as Hotel along Aldeguer Street.
Pressed for specifics, Deocampo said his men reported of a "smooth and easy" capture with Bragancia not resisting arrest.
TNT learned from police sources that the charges against the 38 year-old suspect has long been worked on by authorities amidst reports and complaints that she and two other pals were responsible for bringing minors here. Bragancia's modus operandi is to lure youngsters mostly from Cebu with promised jobs as house help in Iloilo. Once here, the minors are forced to work in sex dens or nightclubs.
Bragancia remains in detention at the city jail pending her turn-over to Cebu. Bail for her temporary liberty has been set at P104,000.
To note, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) - Women and Children's Concern Desk (WCCD) has since campaigned and continuously worked against child labor and child prostitution here. With spot checks and raids conducted in nightspots and similar joints, Chief Inspector Erna Foerster leads police operations with the participation of the city government's Task Force Adams Apple.
Previous spot checks netted young teens including those aged 14 to 16, tasked to work as guest relations officers and waitresses. Most of these minors are not locals.