Boracay ‘pimp’ nabbed for qualified trafficking

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

A MAN accused of “pimping” women in Boracay Island was arrested morning of Sept. 3, 2019.

Members of Malay Police Station collared Kevin Martin, 27, of Sitio Tulubhan, Barangay Manoc-Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan.

Martin is facing charges for qualified trafficking under Section 4(a) in Relation to Section 6 (a) of Republic Act No. 9208 (The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) as amended by RA 10364.

Judge Bienvenido Barrios, Jr. of the 6th Judicial Region-Branch 3, Kalibo, Aklan issued Martin’s arrest warrant on Aug. 28, 2019.

No bail was recommended for his temporary freedom.

Martin was one of the six alleged pimps arrested during Boracay Island’s anti-prostitution campaign on April 13, 2019.

Operatives of the Malay Police Station, together with personnel from the Aklan Port-based Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (APBAHT TF), Malay Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, 2nd Aklan Provincial Mobile Force Company, and 605th Maritime Police Station, collared the suspects after a raid on four establishments.

The establishments have been closed down before for allegedly running a commercial sex trade racket.

The establishments went underground and opted to post pimps outside to call and wait on clients.

Habal-habal and tricycle drivers usually brought customers to the pimps. The drivers are given “referral” fees. For local tourists, the rate is P1,500 and up while foreign tourists will be asked to pay not less than P3,000.

Most of the time, the transaction is consummated in around an hour. The girls are then pimped to another client.

Thirty-three girls were also rescued during the operation. They hailed from Bacolod City, Negros Island, Mindoro, and Manila.

(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)