20 women rescued from Pasay KTV bar

MANILA – Around 20 women were rescued by the Interpol Division of the National Bureau of Immigration (NBI) from a KTV bar along Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City on Wednesday. According to the NBI, the establishment, which looks like an "ordinary" bar from the outside, has been the subject of one-month surveillance after they received information about lewd activities going on inside the VIP rooms there. "Pupunta dito yung customer, usually Chinese yung binibigyan nila ng babae. Iu-usher nila sa VIP rooms tapos mag-oorder ng drinks after that io-ofer yung babae," Atty. Wilma Delgado, investigation agent of the interpol division, said. Delgado said most customers are Chinese, and they are also "offered" Chinese women, who are being paid P15,000 to P20,000 for their services. The NBI, however, could not yet determine if there were minors among those rescued in the operation. They will also coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration to check if the women have pertinent papers or permits to work in the country. The manager and the owner of the bar will be charged with violation of the Anti-Trafficking In Persons Act, the NBI said. "It's a global problem. Definitely merong trend na ganun and may market dito sa Philippines," Delgado said. – From a report by Zandro Ochona, DZMM