'Pedring' saves girl from being trafficked

VAWC Direct Service Officer Daylinda M. Sarcol presides over the confrontation  between the alleged trafficker, the victim and her mother. Joining them is Barangay Captain Esmeralda Galos.

IF not for typhoon “Pedring,” a young teenage girl might have been trafficked to Manila. This was what happened to 14-year-old Joy (not her real name) of Linao, this city who was almost lured to go to the big city for employment. Ironically, the recruiter was a former worker of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

Joy and her mother went to CSWDO on Sept. 29 to ask for help. They identified the suspect as Catherine Malazarte, married of Brgy. Airport, this city. A former job order employee of CSWDO, the suspect also goes by the aliases “Alma,” “Catherine,” “Jingjing” and “Jingkay.”

The girl recounted meeting Malazarte twice at the public market where she helps her mother sell goods. The woman convinced her to work to Manila since she stopped pursuing high school. Joy left home on Sept. 23 without bidding her parents goodbye. “Milayas ko sa amo kay gusto motrabaho,” she said.

She stayed at Malazarte’s home where she was forbidden to go out. The suspect also instructed her to answer 19 years old her if her mother-in-law asks how old she is. She was supposed to leave the following week but didn’t push through because of typhoon “Pedring” that hit Manila.

On her 4^th day, Joy was no longer comfortable with Malazarte’s strictness so she went home that afternoon. “Nanghambog sab ko nga makigkita sa akong amiga, pero ako na diay to igsoon ug inahan ang akong giadto,” she said. She and her mother then went to see Daylinda M. Sarcol, direct service officer for violence against women and children at CSWDO.

 

A confrontation was set which Malazarte attended. She admitted hiring Joy to be a babysitter for her grandchild in Manila. “Napahamak na hinoon ko niini da,” she said. Joy’s family is contemplating filing charges against the suspect for hiring a minor without the parents’ consent. by Jun Tarroza

(Issude of Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2011)