Three more Chinese nationals have been arrested in Makati City on charges of sex trafficking women, police said Thursday.
The Makati City police busted Kevin Sy, 25; Xiao Lo, 23; and Tong Po, 25 late Wednesday night following confidential information regarding a sex trade involving foreign nationals in Barangay Pio del Pilar.
During the police operation, the authorities also rescued 13 other foreigners—two Russians, two Vietnamese and nine Chinese women — allegedly employed as sex workers at Golden Dragon Hotel located at 1847 K&K Building along Evangelista Street.
Five Filipino employees of the establishment were invited for questioning at the police station.
Makati police chief investigator Maj. Gideon Ines said prior to the raid, a Chinese national assisted a police operative disguised gain access to the hotel as a prospective customer and handed over P22,000 to the hotel maintainer for a “good time.”
The suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by RA 10364, also known as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2012 before the Makati City prosecutors office.
The latest raid was conducted in line with the government’s campaign against establishments used as front for prostitutions, and this was not the first time that Chinese nationals got involved in prostitution racket.
Two weeks ago, police rescued 19 women during a raid at two establishments in Barangay Palanan believed to be engaged in sex trafficking. Six alleged customers, two of them Chinese nationals, were also placed under police custody.
Last month, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation 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 NBI did not identify the suspects but it stated that the arrest was made in two separate occassions on Dec. 10 and on Dec. 13.
NBI deputy director Ferdinand Lavin said the group earned 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.’
Joel Tovera, chief of the NBI's anti-organized and transnational crime division, said the group contact their clients via Telegram, a mobile messaging application.
In Parañaque City, police arrested 31 Chinese nationals and rescued 51 sex workers during a raid at a suspected sex den.
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.
Police recovered some evidence, including money amounting to P1.8 million as proceeds of the illegal activities, at the raided building.
Early in September, two Chinese women have also been arrested in Makati City, also on charges of sex trafficking. 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.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said the Philippine government would enforce its laws against Chinese tourists who were misbehaving in the country amid reports of their unruly behavior which allegedly include poor toilet manners.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the concerned authorities have been investigating the reports.
“Our policy is very clear. Immigration laws are to be enforced, as well as laws relative to the stay of any foreign nationals in this country,” Panelo said in a press briefing.
“Those reports are always investigated by the proper authorities. Like the one defecating, but we will not allow violation of any law by any citizen whether foreign or local,” Panelo said.
His remarks came after a man, who was suspected to be a Chinese tourist, was photographed while pooping publicly into what appeared to be an old vase at the Baluarte de Dilao in Intramuros last Sunday.
The photo, taken by a student and a certain Dos Alvarado, immediately made rounds on social media, prompting Manila City Mayor Francisco Domagoso Moreno to order a search for the man who defecated in the historical site.
“Checking from our view I saw someone sitting, then we were alarmed, then I snapped photos from my DSLR camera,” Alvarado said. The man, he alleged, proceeded to clean his anus with his bare hands.
Moreno said the man committed what the law considers a “grave scandal,” a crime that calls for up to six months in prison.
Last Friday, photos showing four men caught urinating in public on Ayala Avenue in Makati also went viral. The men were also Chinese nationals, according to Reginal Brazil Medina, who uploaded the photos.
A Chinese woman was also reported hurting a Filipino delivery guy in a Twitter video uploaded by @trixiaespulgar on Wednesday.
The delivery guy asked the Chinese woman for an identification card and she has none, according to the uploader.
The video showed another Filipino telling the Chinese woman that there are laws to be followed in the country. The confrontation, caught in the video, has 2.6 million views as of writing.