Cops rescue teenager from Parañaque sweatshop

MANILA, Philippines—Operatives of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group rescued a 16-year-old girl during a raid on a factory in Sucat, Parañaque City, where workers were allegedly being locked up and subjected to forced labor to pay off their debts.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr. said Anti-Transnational Crime Division operatives raided the compound of Ultra Design Manufacturing Co. at 8528 Juanita de Leon St. in San Dionisio, Sucat, on Monday night.

The teenage girl from Davao del Sur, identified only as Arlyn to protect her identity, was rescued during the operation.

Ultra Design, a manufacturing company of hospital equipment and wheelchairs, is owned by 67-year-old businessman Rodolfo Chua Sing and his wife, Amanda. Sing was later arrested by the CIDG-ATCD for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

CIDG-ATCD chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa said similar charges would be filed against Amanda, Jerry de la Cruz, who was tagged as the recruiter of the victim in Bukidnon province, and Ermilinda Borromeo, owner of the recruitment firm. All three are still being pursued by the CIDG.

Sosa said the rescue operation, made at about 9:30 p.m., stemmed from the complaints lobbed by victims Joey M. Cortez, Russel Limit and three other former employees of the company.

The victims told CIDG investigators that they suffered verbal and physical abuses at the hands of the owners “who locked them up and forced them to work 12 hours a day [to pay off their involuntary] debts” starting in January.

Sosa said debt bondage falls under qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense.

Investigation disclosed that the victims, along with several others, were being locked up in one of the workers’ quarters inside the company compound. Cortez and Limit were released only by the owners after they paid off their debts.

Sosa said all victims, including the minor, were recruited from Don Carlos, Bukidnon, by De la Cruz.

The recruiter allegedly promised them jobs in Manila that included free meals and accommodation and made them sign a document showing they would get P3,000 in monthly salaries with no other benefits. –DJ Yap, Philippine Daily Inquirer