Five individuals were arrested and 41 women, including 10 minors, were rescued during two entrapment operations conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation-Cebu District Office (NBI-CEBDO) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Oct. 10, 2026.
The operations were carried out in Punta Engaño and Barangay Pajac after authorities identified the alleged offering of women for paid sexual services.
According to Atty. Niño Rodriguez, the NBI-CEBDO agent-in-case, transactions allegedly began online, where individuals believed to be pimps offered women through an online page.
The reported customers included foreign nationals and local tourists who allegedly selected women to accompany them to rooms in resorts, hotels and villas.
The five arrested individuals are facing charges for alleged violations of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2002, as amended by Republic Act No. 10364.
The 41 rescued women were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas, or DSWD-7, for processing and protective custody.
The operations targeted alleged human trafficking activities involving the recruitment or offering of women for paid sexual services, according to the information provided by the NBI-CEBDO.
Authorities have not provided further details in the report about the identities of the arrested individuals or the specific circumstances of each alleged transaction.
The rescued women, including the 10 minors, were placed under the care of DSWD-7 for the appropriate processing and protective measures.
The case highlights the allegations being investigated by authorities in Lapu-Lapu City. The five individuals face charges, but the allegations remain subject to the legal process.
