By John Genesis A. Damgo
A non-governmental organization (NGO) played a major role in helping the National Bureau of Investigation-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-HTRAD) in arresting an individual in Magalang, Pampanga for offering girls for sexual purposes in exchange for a fee.
Director Jaime Santiago said that the Exodus Road, an NGO, endorsed to HTRAD a possible case of human trafficking committed by a certain Hydelyn Lobo also known by her alias, Kim.
Allegedly, Lobo offered 10 to 15 minor girls for sexual services for a fee, to an employee of Exodus through the social media.
Santiago bared that on June 20, 2024, Exodus employees were able to meet Lobo and some of her victims wherein the latter said that she can provide around 20 girls for meet up or parties, and that she could look for nearby establishments or resorts.
Lobo reportedly told them that most of her girls are students and can have sex with customers for a fee of P5,000 for “first timers” and P3,500 for “non-first timers”.
According to Exodus, they were able to set a meet up with Lobo afrer she assured them she will personally bring the girls and will book a resort in Magalang, Pampanga. They then agreed to meet at Vista Ardella Resort.
With these developments, under the strict supervision of Director Santiago, HTRAD operatives, together with the representatives of Exodus and DOJ-IACAT, proceeded to the said resort. They likewise coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and accompanied by the Magalang Social Welfare and Development Office.
Lobo arrived at the resort with ten girls. The poseur clients then spoke with Lobo and were able to confirm that she was knowingly and willfully committing Qualified Trafficking of Persons by offering the victims for sexual intercourse for a fee of P5,000.
Having witnessed a crime in flagrante delicto, operatives announced their authorities and placed Lobo under arrest.
The ten victims were then rescued and were taken under the supervision and care of the DSWD Social Workers. Six of them are confirmed to be minors, while the ages of the other four are still for verification.
Lobo was presented for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for violation of Section 4(a) of RA No. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) in relation to RA 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act).
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