RCB strengthens drive in protecting children

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

The Regulatory and Complaint Board (RCB) has strengthened its drive to protect the children from possible abuses and trafficking inside hotels, motels, inns, lodging houses, resorts, and other similar establishments.

Lawyer Jose Edgardo Uy, RCB chairman in an interview said they conducted a three-day dialogue late last week with owners and operators of hotels, motels, inns, lodging houses and other similar establishments for strict implementation of the law that protects the children.

“Protection sa minors gyud kay gikinahanglan kini sila nga giyahan og insakto tungod kay aduna pa gihapo’y mga pag-abuso sa mga minors sulod sa hotel and other similar establishments nga gakahitabo dinhi sa siyudad,” he said.

He said the dialogue with the so-called accommodation establishments was initially set before the month of May but was taken over by some political activities by the local leaders and the mid-term polls.

“Atong gi-put on hold aron dili kita madudahan nga nangampanya,” he added.

Uy said the RCB conducted the activities after an incident that happened in October, last year, where more than 20 minors were rescued inside a hotel and about to be taken out from the city and offered to work somewhere else.

Another similar incident happened sometime in April, this year, in one of the hotels in Barangay Cugman where 10 minors were also rescued and were about to be hired as sex workers. RCB has already filed two separate cases for the two incidents.

“Mao nga naghangyo kita karon sa mga accommodation establishments nga motabang niini nga katuyoan tungod kay mga bata ang nahimong victims,” he added.