Deaf-mute rescued in funhouse

SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija – A deaf-mute and another companion were rescued by elements of the Nueva Ecija police following a series of lightning raids of 40 establishments along the national highway here suspected of being fronts of prostitution.

Senior Superintendent Ricardo Marquez, Philippine National Police provincial director, said that the deaf-mute, whose identity was withheld, was rescued along with a young woman from Laur, Nueva Ecija Maharlika who was reunited with her mother a week after she found her way here to work as one of the guest relations officer (GRO) in one of the beer joints.

The raiding team, led by deputy provincial director for operations, Superintendent Peter Guibong, swooped down on the establishments on Thursday. They were assisted by the municipal government in conducting the raids.

The crackdown against the beer joints was ordered by Marquez following reports that the flesh trade was running rampant along the Maharlika Highway in this town.

The stretch of funhouses lining the highway is long considered the “red light district of Nueva Ecija” which has been the subject of complaints for many years to no avail. Several robbery-holdup incidents were also recorded in the area during night time, victimizing travelers.     – Manny Galvez