Lingam massage operator arrested

CEBU, Philippines – Policemen arrested the owner of a lingam massage parlor in Barangay Mabolo, as well as two of her masseuses and their male customer, after the masseuses were al-legedly caught in the act of massaging the customer's genitals during a surprise inspection last Monday night.

The massage parlor was the subject of a surprise inspection by the police and the Cebu Anti-Indecency Board shortly before midnight Monday.

Assistant Cebu City prosecutor Aida Sanchez, a member of CAIB, claimed that she personally saw the two women while performing "indecent acts" on the male cus-tomer which is prohibited under Presidential Decree 969 and City Ordinance 1408.

Several other members of the raiding team have executed affidavits to support the statement of Sanchez.

Mercado explained that section 5(f) of City Ordinance 1408 provides that the touching of the genitals of customers in any massage parlor, even if it is covered with cloth, is strictly not allowed and punishable by law.

When the policemen were already about to bring both masseuses to the police station, the massage parlor operator arrived and stopped them from leaving with her workers and asked the police to talk to her lawyer first.

She then instructed her masseuses to hold on to each other to prevent the policemen from taking them away but they were still overpowered.

The policemen yesterday charged the operator for violating the provisions of Republic Act 9208 or the Trafficking in Persons Act, and Presidential Decree 969 for maintaining or hiring persons to engage in prostitution and pornography.

The three other arrested persons were also charged with violation of PD 969 for performing indecent shows and immoral acts.

It was also discovered during the inspection that the massage parlor's sanitary permit already expired last March 13.

CAIB said it was Mayor Michael Rama who ordered them to inspect the various massage parlors and other related business establishments in the city.

The CAIB team also inspected four other establishments and also found some defects.

In one massage parlor in Barangay Capitol Site the doors to the massage rooms could be locked from inside.

In another massage parlor along F. Ramos Street, Sanchez said she saw a masseuse without underwear sitting on top of a male customer who was lying down.

Another massage parlor in Mabolo was also inspected by the team but there were no customers at the time and the receptionist on duty said they already stopped ac-cepting lingam massage.

The usual price for a lingam massage is P900, but the massage attendants only get a share of P150. - Rene U. Borromeo, reports from Ellenie Irine Apuya and Apple Pernes, PIT interns/BRP (FREEMAN)