35 Chinese sex workers rescued from Makati hotel

MANILA, Philippines – Thirty-five Chinese women, reported to be sex workers, were rescued from a hotel in Makati City Monday night.

This is the fourth time in the past two months that law enforcers raided an establishment in southern Metro Manila that was being used as a front for prostitution.

Police officers recovered sex toys and other paraphernalia, costumes, tally boards and books from the ninth, 10th and penthouse floors of Maxx Hotel on Makati Avenue during the raid, according to a report provided by city police Col. Rogelio Simon.

Police said transactions are done online and the services of each sex worker costs at least P20,000.

Simon said 21 Chinese men, all customers, and 10 hotel employees were arrested during the raid and face charges of violating Republic Act 10364, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

Simon said the Makati business permit and licensing office has issued an order to shut down the hotel and a notice was put up yesterday.

2 held for bribery

Two Chinese men were arrested yesterday afternoon after they allegedly tried to bribe police officers to release 21 of their compatriots arrested during the raid.

Zhang Xiuqiang, 32, and Fan Jianping, 23, reportedly took out P1.7 million in cash at the city police’s Station Investigation Detective Management Section to “convince” the lawmen to free their friends, according to a spot report given by city police chief investigator Maj. Gideon Ines.

Chinese sex workers were also rescued in three previous raids.

The National Bureau of Investigation raided a karaoke bar in Makati late last month and rescued 91 Chinese women and four Filipinas.

A condominium building in Parañaque used as a sex den was closed down last Sept. 16 after 51 Chinese women were rescued.

Six sex workers were also rescued from a condominium unit in Makati last Sept. 4.