NBI rescues 20 women from 3 prostitution dens

The National Bureau of Investigation has rescued at least 20 women from three suspected prostitution dens in Mandaue City during a simultaneous operation Thursday night.

NBI operatives swooped down on Smiles Angel Bar, Jovy’s Mini Bar and Sunrise Angel Bar in barangay Maguikay following a complaint filed by Charlie Miaco, program coordinator of End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT), a non-governmental organization engaged in the protection of women and children from human trafficking and prostitution.

Special Investigator Arnel Pura said they found out during surveillance operation that the three bars were engaged in prostitution.

An entrapment operation was immediately conducted, resulting in the arrest of three managers who allegedly acted as pimps or "mamasang," and the rescue of 20 dancers.

Arrested were Judith Portillo, Maria Annabelle Cañete and Virginia Hermata who served as managers of Sunrise Angel’s Bar, Smiles Angel and Jovy’s Mini Bar respectively.

The three were caught in the act of accepting marked money from the NBI agents who pretended to be customers. The NBI operatives were divided into three teams with each team has decoys posing as customers.

The agents who pretended to be customers negotiated if the bar management would allow their dancers to go out with their customers for a fee. One of the decoys said the managers of the bars asked for P3,500 for them to take out a woman and have sex with the customer.

The owners of the bar, Jovito Pilapil, Marcos Pilapil and Jose Quiapo, were not around during the raid. But they will be facing charges for violation of the Republic Act 9208, otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act together with the three alleged pimps.

NBI executive officer Ernesto Macabarre, who supervised the operation, said they would conduct similar operation in the future in response to the request of ECPAT.

It was found out that the owners of the raided bars were the ones who own the bar in Bacolod City where the NBI rescued several minors from Cebu several months ago. — Fred P. Languido/LPM