Police asked to keep tabs on dubious establishments

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board has requested the Cebu City Police Office to intensify their monitoring of dubitable establishments in the city.

This as the Sinulog 2010 grand parade draws near and the night spots become preferred hangouts for the young and old alike during the festivities.

CAIB, whose members include CCPO officials, has already identified the so-called problematic establishments in the downtown and uptown areas.

These include massage parlors which are allegedly being used as fronts for prostitution and karaoke and gay bars that feature lewd shows, among others.

The CCPO, however, has been very busy these days as the implementation of the Commission on Elections gun ban ahead of the campaign period started yesterday.

Checkpoints will also be established anytime, anywhere in the city and police personnel will be badly needed for the said operations.

But CAIB chairman Rene Josef Bullecer clarified that they do not need so much personnel for the monitoring unless there are raids to be done.

“I requested two to three personnel lang nga mag-monitor ba kay tingsiaw ron sa mga bay kahilayan, dili gyud ni nato sila lugakan,” Bullecer said.

Bullecer also believes that most of these establishments have not even renewed their businesses permits yet and therefore are not allowed to operate.

This is because January is the business renewal month and business operators normally apply for renewal when the deadline draws near.

City Hall is still accepting and processing applications for the renewal of business permits without any penalty and surcharge.

The CAIB chairman stressed that indecent and lewd shows are strictly prohibited in the city pursuant to the city’s existing anti-indecency ordinance.

Meanwhile, CAIB has recommended a massage parlor along Pelaez St. for closure for violating laws on public welfare and morals.

Bullecer said that the massage parlor was raided by the police a few weeks back after a police informant confirmed that it offered “extra service”, slang for sexual favors.

The CAIB chairman disclosed that women in the said establishment are posing as masseuses but they are actually commercial sex workers.

“Nasuta gyud sa among police decoy nga nagtanyag gyud og extra service, wa man gani masahe diretso lang kuno, mao tong gironda dayon,” Bullecer said.

He added that aside from being used as front for prostitution, the massage parlor failed to secure a business permit from City Hall.  

Bullecer said that their recommendation for closure was already forwarded to the Office of the Mayor for approval. — Elly Bolonos/BRP (THE FREEMAN)