NBI rescues 22 Chinese women from alleged Makati prostitution den

Twenty-two Chinese women were rescued from an alleged Makati City prostitution den that exclusively catered to Chinese customers, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday.

NBI agents arrested two Chinese nationals who allegedly operated the den during an entrapment operation last January 15, the bureau said.

Operatives of the bureau's Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division arrested Zhang Lian Wei and Li Wu Tao after Zhang led a poseur-customer to a hotel room where the Chinese women were waiting.

They then led him to a private room after he had chosen one of the women, and instructed him to pay Li, the alleged manager, P9,000.

While Zhang and Li faced human trafficking charges, the NBI was coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration regarding the turnover of the rescued women.

Last December, the NBI arrested 15 Chinese nationals who were also allegedly operating prostitution dens in Las Piñas City. Five women were rescued in  this operation.

Officials had described the illegal operations as "systematic," with most of their customers employees of offshore gaming operations. — DVM, GMA News