Labella asks cops for more operations against prostitution

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella has ordered Cebu City Police office director Senior Superintendent Noli Romana to intensify their inspection of possible places where minors and commercial sex workers stay at night.

"I would suggest to Colonel Romana to conduct a more and intense drive there…" Labella said.

Last week, 14 adult commercial sex workers were rescued by police along Juana Osmeña Street and Gen. Maxilom Avenue. Based on reports, some of the women were already rescued before but just went back to their jobs.

Labella said that the measures of the police should be "more of preventive than reactionary."

He also added that police should conduct raids "every now and then."

Months ago, there were also minors taken into custody by barangay officials in the city after they were seen hanging out in various areas at dawn, which is in violation of the city's curfew ordinance.

With this, Labella urges the parents of the minors and the sex workers to always monitor their children's activities to prevent and/or stop them from being a victim of prostitution.

"Dapat unta the parents should take an active role nga dili unta pasagdan ang atong mga bata," Labella said.

Meanwhile, City Administrator Lucelle Mercado has ordered the Department of Public Services to always check the streetlights in the city since it is reportedly in the poorly-lighted streets where the minors and sex workers are usually seen.

"Ang usa nga among na notice ba naa na sila tungod kay may pagkangit-ngit  sa lugar. Ato ng gitigaan og instruction ang atong lighting nga i-regularly monitor ug katong area bitaw nga patay ang suga, ilisan dayon ang suga," she said.

She added that the barangay officials and the tanods are also monitoring their respective barangays, but the sex workers apparently would find the right timing.

"Ang mga tanods naa baya, nya usahay atangan man lang (when the tanods are not on a certain area)," she said.  (FREEMAN)