Government agents busted 15 Chinese nationals for their alleged involvement in prostitution racket in Las Piñas City where most of their clients were fellow Chinese working at Philippine offshore gaming operations.
The National Bureau of Investigation did not identify the suspects but it said that the arrest was made in two separate occasions on Dec. 10 and Dec. 13.
Three men were initially arrested in a hotel in Barangay Almanza, where the suspects allegedly escorted Chinese customers who had made bookings online to avail of the services of the alleged prostitutes.
The 12 other suspects—nine men and three women—were caught at a three-story building where the authorities also rescued five women.
NBI deputy director Ferdinand Lavin said the group earns between P400,000 and P500,000 while the women were being paid in the amount ranging from P8,000 to P18,000 for their ‘services.’
Officials said the suspects had undergone inquest proceedings and face a complaint for qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense.
Joel Tovera, chief of the NBI's anti-organized and transnational crime division, the group contacted their clients via Telegram, a mobile messaging application.
This was not the first time that Chinese nationals got involved in a prostitution racket.
Two months ago, police arrested 31 Chinese nationals and rescued 51 sex workers during a raid at a suspected prostitution den in Paranaque City.
Shortly before 12 midnight, a composite police team swooped on the Diamond Bay Tower building under construction along Roxas Boulevard in Barangay Baclaran, raiding the 3rd floor where several massage parlors had been turned into sex rooms.
Thirteen suspected maintainers and 18 male customers, all Chinese nationals, were arrested in the operation conducted by operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office-Special Operations Unit, and Women, and Children Protection Division and Parañaque City Police Station.
The raid, which was conducted in close coordination with the Parañaque City government led by Mayor Edwin Olivarez and the Bureau of Immigration, also resulted in the rescue of 51 Chinese young women, who the police suspect were subjected by the syndicate to forced labor and prostitution.
Seven Filipina workers were also placed under police custody while the 51 rescued women were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Police recovered some evidence, including money amounting to P1.8 million as proceeds of the illegal activities, at the raided building.
There were reports that the Chinese women were engaged in the sex trade and were being paid by customers in the amount ranging from P9,000 to P22,000.
The reports also showed that Filipino customers could not enter the premises without a Chinese companion.
Early in September, two Chinese women have also been arrested in Makati City, also on charges of sex trafficking. Police busted the racket following confidential information on a the sex trade involving foreign nationals in Barangay San Antonio.
The authorities raided room numbers 519, 803, 924, and 1823 of Avida Asten Tower 2 located along Malugay Street and rescued six Vietnamese women victims in the sex trade.
Investigation showed that the gang’s operation involve internet application wherein clients are being lured to avail of sexual services. Based on their promotion, there are Vietnamese, Chinese and Malaysian ladies being trafficked.
Further investigation also revealed that the gang is using a room in the condominium called "show-up room" where clients can choose among the Asian ladies. Clients also have an option to use other three available rooms in the condominium or bring the ladies somewhere else, police said.