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10 foreigners held in Manila bar raid

Rey Galupo - The Philippine Star
10 foreigners held in Manila bar raid
Foreign women working as guest relations officers at Sha-Sha Club in Manila are rounded up during a raid Wednesday night. The city government shut down the club yesterday.
Edd Gumban

MANILA, Philippines — Ten women, all foreigners, working as guest relations officers in a bar in Malate, Manila were arrested on Wednesday night.

Acting on the request of the city government’s bureau of permits, officers of the Manila Police District’s Special Mayor’s Reaction Team (SMaRT) rounded up the women ­– eight Russians, a Ukrainian and a Kazakh, ranging in age from 21 to 29 – working at the Sha-Sha Club along San Andres street at around 9:40 p.m.

The women, all billeted at the Malate Crown Plaza, could hardly speak English and failed to present their working permits and passports, according to SMaRT chief Maj. Rosalino Ibay.

The owner of the bar, identified as Reynaldo Vergara, was not present during the raid.

The operation was staged after city government and police officials received reports that some establishments in Ermita and Malate were being used as fronts for illegal drugs and prostitution, Ibay said.

Five of the 10 women later presented work permits while others have yet to do so, he added.

He said they are coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration to determine the status of the women’s visas.        

SHA-SHA CLUB

SPECIAL MAYOR’S REACTION TEAM

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