Report: Iloilo seeks higher fines for 'illegal sex workers'

The Iloilo City government is seeking higher penalties for unregistered sex workers in a bid to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, The News Today, an online news site reported Monday. The report said the local government's Task Force Adams Apple wanted the penalties raised to P500. Marietta Geremias, task force officer-in-charge, was quoted by the report as saying that City Ordinance 330, which imposes penalties for prostitution, said freelance sex workers should also undergo a weekly medical chek-up. The ordinance only penalizes any person, dancer or performer, of obscene and indecent shows or exhibitions, and the maintainer, owner or manager of any business establishment that allows obscene and indecent shows or exhibitions. Geremias said the only case they could file against the freelance sex workers is vagrancy. There is also no provision in the ordinance that requires sex workers to undergo a weekly regular check-up. GMANews.TV