PNP steps up campaign in Boracay as summer nears
BY MONTESA GRINO

FROLICKING IN THE WHITE BEACH. The police is closely watching the human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the island of Boracay (BR Zabal)

BORACAY – The 6th Regional Maritime Office (6th RMO) here is wary of the possible surge in the number of human trafficking cases in the region as summer nears.
According to Supt. Agustin Molina, chief of the 6th RMO, around 30 maritime personnel from different units attended the seminar on Crimes involving Women and Children at the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) to equip those assigned in the seaports to address such criminal acts.
Molina said there were cases of human trafficking that were reported to their office. Some of which were intercepted and preempted earlier.
Senior Insp. Cecilia Detablan, chief of the 6th RMO, tackled Anti-Trafficking in Person (RA 9208), Anti-Domestic Violence against Women and Children and techniques in taking Affidavits or Sworn statements.
Molina said the suspects are trafficking victims who desire to escape a life of captivity to literally throw off the chains that imprison them in a life of labor or sexual exploitation.
“Majority of these victims have been lured away from their homes, or tricked into a life in which they are denied the freedom to move and live without fear of abuse, rape or deprivation,” he stressed.
Molina added that to preempt trafficking they alerted their 17 seaports in Western Visayas for possible shipment of these individuals.
He said the cases usually happened in Boracay in Aklan, Capiz, Negros Occidental, Iloilo and even Manila and Cebu.
“Nagabaylo-baylo man lang ila destination but most of the time the suspects transport their victims through the sea because it is cheaper,” he added.
Molina said that in case his men intercept suspicious women, they have the right to place subject them for investigation or police interrogation.
“Mabal-an ta man ina kun gina threaten sila or victimized by these syndicates,” he said.
He admitted also that the instruction and ordered about the seminar came from the higher headquarters.
“Of course, the headquarters wants our men to be trained well in cases incidents or such situations arise,” he added.
In Boracay, aside from drug traffickers and users, the police here are also wary of the possible urge in the number of commercial sex workers as summer draws near.
The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) has started monitoring commercial sex workers in the island, said Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr., acting Aklan police director.
Policemen have also started monitoring activities, he added.
Of particular concern to the police are underage or young commercial sex workers, and children who may fall prey to pedophiles.
“We are not only enforcing the law. We are also promoting the rights of women and children. We don’t want our children to be exploited especially by foreign nationals,” Durana stressed.
So far, Durana said, they have not monitored any case of pedophilia or cybersex in Boracay.