The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has rescued 52 minors from abuse and exploitation, including 21 young people who were allegedly forced to work in suspected prostitution dens.
"It was a result of an entrapment and rescue operations," Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said in an article posted on the DOLE website.
She said 21 of the minors were rescued from a massage center in Quezon City, a KTV bar in Parañaque City and a restaurant also in Quezon City.
Baldoz said the three prostitution dens were padlocked following the rescue.
The investigation showed that the minors rescued from prostitution dens were asked to dance in flimsy attire or in the nude.
One of the rescued minors said the patrons can touch their sensitive parts or can engage in sexual acts with them for a fee.
The 31 other minors were rescued from an embroidery firm in Valenzuela, a garments factory in Pasay City, a printing press in Quezon City and a cafe in Manila.
“We have to step up and intervene on behalf of these minors when their parents and guardians fail to protect them. The government is here to ensure that our youth are free from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination or any condition detrimental to their development," Metro Manila regional director Raymundo Agravante said.
Agravante added that 16 alleged perpetrators were formally charged for violating Republic Act 9231.
The law allows the Labor Secretary or his or her duly authorized representatives to order after due notice and hearing, the closure of any business firm found to have violated any of its provisions three times.
Immediate closure can also be ordered if the violation resulted in the death, insanity, or serious physical injury of the employed minor, or if the establishment is engaged in prostitution or lewd shows.
“Our efforts do not end at rescue and closure operations. The DSWD provides after care assistance to rescued minors while criminal charges are filed at the Department of Justice. The DOLE-NCR handles the administrative cases, which involves issuing orders for the payment of back wages and other benefits," Agravante said.
"DOLE also provides parents of rescued minors with livelihood assistance so they can start earning for their family. Providing these parents with the means to support the needs of their children is one of the viable solutions the DOLE considers in our pursuit to keep these kids off the hook from the perpetrator’s bait," Agravante added.
The DOLE worked with the following in rescuing the minors:
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);
the Philippine National Police (PNP), and
the International Justice Mission (IJM), a non-government organization.
Former child laborers
Meanwhile, the DOLE Cavite Provincial Office, through the support of JAE Philippines, Inc., distributed school supplies to 26 former child laborers who worked as scavengers and “namumukot" in Cavite City and Noveleta, Cavite.
The assistance provided to the children was part of the "Sagip Kabataan: Balik Paaralan," a corporate social responsibility program of JAE Philippines, Inc. – VVP, GMANews.TV
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