A couple-businessmen are facing charges of child labor, illegal recruitment or trafficking in persons under the law filed by parents of the victims who are minors. The charges were filed against Jose Bransuela and his wife, Marlisa Bransuela, of Mabolo, Cebu City apparently for violation of Republic Act No. 9208 or Anti-Trafficking in Person Act by complainant-parents of the victims, whose identities are withheld. Under the said law (RA 9208), it is “unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, (section 4 paragraph (g)) “To recruit, hire, adopt, transport or abduct a person, by means of threat or use of force, fraud, deceit, violence, coercion, or intimidation for the purpose of removal or sale of organs of said person.” If found guilty of the felony, the couple “shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of not less than P1,000,000.00 but not more P2,000,000.00.”

The charges were filed last week before the National Labor Relations Commission, according to the joint committees on women/family and peace and order/public safety of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan chaired by Board Member lawyer Aster Piollo and Board Member Ma. Fe Camacho-Lejos, respectively. The joint committees endorsed to NLRC upon the recommendation of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) represented by Gerry Guidaben the filing of the charges against the Bransuelas during the committee meeting last week at the SP Conference Room. According to the joint committees, they invited the Bransuelas to the committee hearing but refused. The joint committees were told to let the minors come to Cebu to collect their dues.

The two minors aged 17 and 18 were hired to work with a promise they were to be given a “decent job” in Manila and each would receive P300/per day sometime in August 2009. Contrary to what had been promised, the duo ended up in delivering food stuffs allegedly on foot since they were given fare money. The minors were accompanied by their parents during the committee hearing. Among those who participated in the committee meeting included Board Members Josil bajo and Ester Corazon Galbreath, P/Insp Nora Puot, officer-in-charge chief Tagbilaran airport, P03 Imelinda Basalo, in charge of the Women and Children Protection Desk at Camp Dagohoy. (RVO)