LGUs should curb prostitution, trafficiking in their areas: NCRPO

February 26, 2020

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday said local government units (LGUs) should be curbing prostitution and human trafficking in their areas.

In a TV interview, Police Major General Debold Sinas said LGUs should keep an eye on businesses who requested permits from them.

“It’s not our job, we will only take actions if there is reported violation in the said establishment. If we monitor that there is prostitution or hiring of minors in the place, that is the only time we can enter in the picture,” Sinas said.

Sinas made the statement after confirming that some establishments they  raided will just open another business in other parts of the city.

He said the concentration of prostitution dens where human trafficking usually transpires is in the southern part of Metro Manila, in the City of Manila and some areas in Quezon City.

He added this business pretends to be a videoke hub which will be later found to be catering extra service to its customers.

“As to the permits, we cannot stop it because if they want to apply again, they can do it… we will just hope that this time their business will not have any hanky panky,” Sinas said.

To prevent this illegal activity, Sinas said they are studying if they can also file charges against the owner of the place where the prostitution den is found  like what they are doing in  illegal gambling operations.

“One of our successful drives now is filing cases against owner of establishment where video kareras where found,” he said.

“Because it’s their responsibility even if they are not involved because it’s their countrymen who are being exploited and when they lease the place, it’s their responsibility to know what is going on inside that place… we are now studting if there is a case or how do we file a case against them,” he added.

Sinas admitted some foreigners were involved in this operation, sometimes as clients and sometimes as alleged owners.

He added crime rates involving foreign nationals, especially Chinese, increased that’s why they coordinated with the Chinese police attaché.

“We established good contact with police attaché of China… the chief of the Philippine National Police (Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa) ordered for the creation of tourist help desk,” he said.

Though there is good communication between the two countries, Sinas said Chinese police can only observe the investigation of Chinese suspects in the country.

Senators are conducting hearings on increasing number of crimes, especially on prostitution and human trafficking due to the proliferation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) in the country. Ella Dionisio/DMS