8 women caught offering “extra service”

CEBU, Philippines - Police rescued eight women who allegedly offered extra service to their customers in a massage parlor along Gorordo Avenue late Wednesday night.

The rescued women aged from 23 to 35 years old and were working as massage therapists of Hearts Health Services which is reportedly being managed by a certain Richie Sanchez, who eluded arrest.

Chief Insp. Aileen Recla of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch said the Department of Social Welfare and Services through its head, Dr. Ester Concha, coordinated with them after receiving information about the extra service offered by female therapists of the said massage parlor.

Recla said they confirmed the illegal activity in the parlor after placing it under surveillance for one week. 

A police posed as customer and pretended to have a massage and asked for extra service. The decoy paid P250 for the massage and additional P500 for the extra service.

As soon as the therapist received the money, Recla said they conducted the raid and rescued eight women.

The IDMB chief believes that apart from the eight women, there were several other women working at the parlor and have been taken out by their customers who paid for extra service.

Concha, in an interview, said the area was too dirty and narrow for a massage parlor, and dangerous as well for it has no fire exit. The establishment's business permit has already expired.

Francisco Peralta, caretaker of the building, said he was only renting out the building and he was not aware of the illegal activity going on at the massage parlor. He disclosed, though, that he noticed taxicabs waiting outside the parlor and women got in.

The DSWS recommended for the closure of the said massage parlor because of several violations.

One of the women did not deny offering extra service to their customers.

"Tungod man gud sa kalisod unya duha pa gyud anak unya gamay ra ang sweldo, musod na lang gyud ta ani," she said. (Because of financial difficulties, we are forced to do this.)

Recla said one of the rescued women who received the money may be charged for prostitution.  (FREEMAN)