6 nightclubs in Caloocan closed

Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo ordered last Wednesday night the closure of six nightclubs reported to be featuring nude shows. The establishments are also being investigated for alleged recycling of leftover liquor and food.

Ordered closed were the Hide-Away KTV along Fourth Avenue; Third Disco KTV along Third Avenue; Gold Hunter KTV and Maginoo, a gay bar along EDSA within spitting distance of the Bonifacio Monument; Hennesy KTV along 10th Avenue; and Equus KTV along Samson Road, all in Caloocan.

The raiding team was led by City Administrator Mamerto Manahan with representatives from the Caloocan City Health Department, Caloocan City police, Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management; and the Business Permits and Licensing Department.

Manahan said the simultaneous raids led to the apprehension of some 50 guest relation officers (GROs) and attendants found working without the necessary permits. They were rounded up and brought to the City Hall police detachment for investigation.

The girls, who were found in various states of dishabille were allowed to change into more decent wear before they were brought to the police station.

The alleged star nude dancer of Hide-Away Disco identified only as a certain "Caballera" (literally "woman horse rider"), 22, dressed in a skimpy two-piece bikini, nonchalantly undressed in front of the amused Manahan and the rest of the raiding team.

Sticking her long tongue out at him, she slowly took off her T-back panties and changed into a more decent black pair in full view of everyone.

"I’ll charge you for peeping," the dancer huskily warned Manahan.

Manahan said the establishments were also found to have violated the Revenue Code of Caloocan City. During the raid, Manahan discovered that the establishments violated numerous provisions of the sanitation code, including the recycling of leftover liquors served in bottles wrapped in tissue paper to conceal the deception.

"These establishments have been victimizing their customers by serving them secondhand booze," Manahan said. "Instead of disposing of leftover drinks properly, they make huge profits by refilling empty bottles with the contents of accumulated unfinished drinks and serving these to unsuspecting customers," he added. – Jerry Botial and Pete Laude