Women sold online like food allegedly to Chinese POGO workers

 

Women are being sold like food in restaurants in alleged prostitution dens catering to Chinese nationals, Senator Risa Hontiveros stressed on Tuesday.

The senator said the Senate is looking into the problem of these prostitution hubs in the country, which may be linked to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO).

The National Bureau of Investigation said this kind of illegal activity surfaced with the rise of POGOs in the country.

"Based on the experience of the NBI, we only experienced this kind of activities when POGO was created and a lot of Chinese employees of these POGOs is the ultimate client of these prostitution dens," National Bureau of Investigation deputy director Vicente de Guzman III said.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras," Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, revealed chat groups of Chinese nationals where vulgar photos of women were posted.

"May menu of services, parang restaurant. 'Yong mga babae parang ino-order lang sa app ng mga Chinese members ng mga grupong ito," she said.

Hontiveros also revealed the prices and transactions of the Chinese men.

Based on one of the screenshots of the chat group, a one hour sexual service is priced at P13,000; P16,000 for an hour and a half; and P30,000 for a whole night.

Some of the screenshots also showed photos of women who are called as "tea" and "new car."

Meanwhile, Karina, a 15-year-old sex trafficking victim from Makati City said she was hired as a massage therapist, but little did she know that "extra services" will be asked of her.

Karina revealed that her boss was a Chinese national who has a Filipina wife.

"Three thousand pesos to seven thousand pesos ang bayad sa customer at ang napupunta sa mga boss ay kalahati. Ang mga naging customer ko ay Vietnamese, Korean, Bumbay, Amerikano at Chinese pero karamihan ay Chinese," Karina said.

Karina also said that aside from her, a 14-year-old girl named "Shaira" was also hired by her boss.

"Si Shaira po, kahit mayroon pong sakit, nilalakad pa rin po sa mga customer," Karina said.

According to the investigation of the Makati Police, rooms of hotels are being rented weekly, or sometimes, even for a whole year.

"One-stop shop 'yan. Doon ka na rin magbabayad sa kanilang pinakabugaw then doon ka na rin sa kwarto na binook nila," Gideon Ines, chief of the investigation division of the Makati Police said. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News