3 arrested for bribe try in Makati sex den case

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese man, his lawyer and driver were arrested yesterday for allegedly offering a P1.2-million bribe to police officers for the release of one of two women who allegedly ran a prostitution den in Makati City.

Huang Xiangfei, 29; lawyer Joselito Vasquez, 56; and driver Meljohn Palma, 43, were apprehended in the office of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)’s Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU) at Camp Bagong Diwa at around 2 a.m. 

RSOU chief Lt. Col. Rogarth Campo said the three tried to bribe them to release Li Xuemei, who was arrested along with Kuang Meiting during a raid on a condominium in Barangay San Antonio.

Six Vietnamese women were rescued during the raid.

Campo said Vasquez and his two companions appeared at his office at about 9 p.m. Thursday and offered P2 million for the release of Li, his client.

Vasquez was arrested right after handing over an envelope containing P1 million to Campo at about 2 a.m. yesterday, and Palma after bringing an additional P200,000 into the office, according to Campo.

Huang was arrested as an accomplice in the bribery attempt.

Eleazar said all three men are being held in the RSOU’s detention facility while charges of corruption of a public officer are being readied against them.