WOMAN WHO ‘PIMPED’ MINOR FACES CHARGES

Girl says suspect brought her to a hotel in downtown Cebu City and introduced her to a 23-year-old American

The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor indicted a woman who allegedly pimped a 13-year-old girl to an American in exchange for money last year.

Prosecutor Alex Gabud found evidence to charge Maria Ethel Lucero-Patoc with violation of Sec. 4 (a) in relation to Sec. 6 (a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended by RA 10364, or the Qualified Trafficking in Persons Act.

“The accused, with deliber- ate intent to gain, did then and there recruit, hire and transport a 13-year-old minor for purpose of pimping her to a foreign national in exchange for money,” the charge sheet read.

The charge is a non-bailable offense.

The case stemmed from the complaint that authorities filed against Patoc before the City Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly pimping a minor girl to an American tourist in December 2016.

The minor victim said that Patoc brought her to a hotel in downtown Cebu City and introduced her to a 23-year-old American.

The victim said that Patoc and the American talked for a while before the tourist returned to the hotel room and had sex with her.

After the sexual encounter, the American gave P5,000 as payment for her services and another P1,000 to the accused.

The accused failed to submit her counter-affidavit, prompting government prosecutors to resolve the complaint based on evidence presented by the complainant.

“The victim is a child pursuant to the latter provision of the law, which qualifies the offense,” Prosecutor Gabud said in the resolution.