Raps filed vs 7 in Zambo for trafficking workers

Complaints have been filed against seven people who allegedly trafficked and enslaved 13 workers from Leyte before the Zamboanga City prosecutor's office. The suspects were accused of violating Republic Act 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, and Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children against Child Abuse and Discrimination Act, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said in a statement. Named respondents in the complaint were Clarissa Saño, Felix Bueno, Enienita Magayones, Reynaldo Avita, Roque Ramones, Ricky Ramones, and Myrna Balando, all of Northwest Manpower Services in Zamboanga City. The complaints were filed after 13 people who were recruited and allegedly forced to work under sub-standard conditions by the suspects were rescued by government authorities. The rescue, done Aug. 5, was a result of the inspection by the DOLE regional office of the establishments where the victims were working. According to the victims, they were recruited from Leyte and Tacloban City sometime in July and transported to work as factory workers at Aquatic Food Manufacturing Corp., through the Northwest Manpower Services. Besides being reportedly offered high paying jobs, the victims were supposedly offered overtime pay, free food, and accommodations. However, the workers were allegedly forced into “labor, slavery, and involuntary servitude," DOLE said. The victims were allegedly paid with low salaries, forced to sleep in an unsuitable building under construction, with food, billeting and other expenses deducted from their pay. Moreover, those who got sick were forced to work without proper medication. Some of the suspects also allegedly threatened the victims against leaving or escaping unless they first fully pay up their “debts" to management, DOLE said. Subsequently, the DOLE Region 9 Office found out that that Northwest Manpower Services had not been issued a legitimate permit as a private recruitment and placement agency (PRPA) and neither registered as required under DOLE Department Order No. 18-02, Series of 2002. - KBK, GMANews.TV