14 alleged Chinese sex workers nabbed by BI

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) started yesterday to clamp down on suspected foreign commercial sex workers masquerading as guest relations officers (GROs) in nightclubs in Metro Manila.

Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo said that the campaign resulted in the arrest of 14 suspected Chinese sex workers at the Intimacy KTV and Restaurant located along Mabini Street in Ermita.

Domingo said that the women, who will be deported to China, could not produce passports or travel documents when arrested, and did not have the required working permits in violation of the immigration law.

Police Chief Inspector Winnie Quidato, who led the arresting team, said the women were arrested after he and his men posed as customers at the karaoke bar and later introduced themselves as immigration agents.

Quidato said the operation was conducted after days of surveillance which confirmed that the women were employed as guest relations officers at the said karaoke bar.

Domingo declared that the arrest of the women signaled the start of the bureau’s campaign against foreign sex workers working in karaoke bars.

The immigration chief also said that immigration agents are now monitoring the operations of other establishments believed to be employing foreign guest relations officers who do not have the necessary working visa and permit.

Intelligence reports revealed that these foreign women entered the country as tourists upon invitation of nightclub operators who charged exorbitant fees from customers entertained by the foreign GROs. — Rey Arquiza