Empowered Child Brings Traffickers and Abusers to Trial
July 21, 2021 · By Preda News
Empowered Child Brings Traffickers and Abusers to Trial
A Regional Trial Court- Family Court in Olongapo City has found probable cause to hold an American national for trial for multiple cases of qualified trafficking in persons. In her Order dated 5 July 2021, however, Judge Gemma Theresa B. Hilario-Logronio said the Court cannot yet issue the Warrant of Arrest as the Court needs the complete address of the accused.
The accused Nickolas Pyant, has been in the Philippines for several months and has traveled between Olongapo City and Angeles City many times where several children have complained of having been sexually exploited by him. One of them is Chiara, 15 years old, who was rescued on 18 November 2020 through the joint efforts of Preda and NBI that also led to the arrest and filing of legal cases against three traffickers.
Initially, Chiara did not want to file a legal complaint against the traffickers because she was brainwashed and made to believe that they were helping her and considered them as her pseudo-family. Through constant counseling by the social workers, Chiara realized her self-worth and dignity and was empowered to file the case against the traffickers. She also revealed the hardship and abuse she suffered in the hands of her own family, the reason why she run away and became a victim of human trafficking.
At Preda, Chiara disclosed that her traffickers started trafficking her when she was only 13 years old. Nickolas Pyant is one of the foreigners that sexually abused her. She met him in Barangay Barretto, Olongapo City. Not knowing that Chiara is already under the care of Preda, Pyant still tried to contact her and three other girls at Preda. Chiara and the three other girls told their stories of abuse by Pyant and all four filed legal complaint against him. The girls attended the preliminary investigation escorted by the Preda social worker and paralegal officer but Pyant neither appeared in the hearings nor submitted his counter-affidavit. The case is now elevated to the family court in Olongapo City and the judge is expected to issue an arrest warrant against Pyant soon.
Meanwhile at Preda, Chiara attended regular counseling and emotional release therapy sessions and has a new-found respect for herself. Her interest in education is renewed and she is looking forward to enrolling in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) this coming school year. She is participating in some occupational activities in the Preda home such cooking and baking.
This new beginning for Chiara and many other victims like her as well as the legal efforts put forth against child abusers and traffickers were made possible through the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to Preda’s anti-trafficking efforts through a grant managed by the Partnership for Development Assistance in the Philippines.
Preda News.
