15 women rescued from alleged prostitution den for POGO workers

Fifteen women, including five possible minors, were rescued last Friday from an alleged prostitution den for POGO workers in Pasay City, according to a “24 Oras” report by Saleema Refran on Thursday.

The raid happened between Frday evening and Saturday early morning at a condominium complex.

While the victims claimed they were all adults, a medical exam conducted by the Philippine National Police revealed that the wisdom teeth of five of those rescued have not yet emerged. The eruption of the wisdom tooth is an indication of age, as these do not emerge until a person turns 17 or 18 years old.

“The results of the medical examination and dental examination basically supported our initial assessment na may minors nga sa kanila,” said Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesperson Winston Casio.

Police said the victims presented fake IDs containing fake names and ages that they use when finding clients through online messaging apps such as Telegram and Whatsapp.

“As early as 2016, may ganitong operations na silang ginagawa. Wala pong Filipino clients– all the clients are Chinese, mga foreigners na mga POGO workers. Hindi lang iisa, mayroong anywhere between 8 to 10 na mga prostitution dens, hubs, na nasa loob [ng condominium facilities]. Mas mainam sana na matignan ito ng Property Management Office,” said Casio.

(As early as 2016, they have been conducting these kinds of operations. They have no Filipino clients – [they cater to] Chinese, foreigners who are POGO workers. It’s not only one, it’s anywhere between 8 to 10 prostitution dens, hubs, inside. It would be better if the Property Management Office can look into this.) 

Two Chinese nationals and one Filipina, who were allegedly in charge of the den, are undergoing inquest proceedings on sex trafficking charges.

“Lumalabas na po sa Metro Manila, etong mga scam hubs, mga operations ng mga criminal na ito. Although, we really have to, again, intensify our efforts para dito sa [mga] menor de edad,” said Department of Justice spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano.

(It appears that in Metro Manila, these scam hubs are operations of crime syndicates… we have to intensify our efforts for the sake of [exploited] minors.)

Prior to the last Friday's raid, authorities raided a POGO facility in Pasay CItynthat revealed a prostitution aquarium and torture chamber. —RF, GMA Integrated News