21 alleged sex workers rescued from Ermita bar in Manila

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MANILA, Philippines—Twenty-one alleged sex workers, including a 15-year-old girl, were rescued from a “sex den” in Manila Tuesday evening, by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s (CIDG) women and children protection division (WCPD), officials said Wednesday.

WPCD chief Emma Libunao said the raid at Bistro Emilio KTV Bar along United Nations Avenue corner Cortada Street in Ermita, Manila, around 8 p.m. Tuesday was made after they had received reports that some previously rescued sex workers were again working in the establishment, which was believed to be a prostitution front. The raid resulted in the arrest of five persons.

A 4-month old baby, daughter of one of the rescued victims, was also rescued.

“The rescued infant was turned over to the DSWD’s (Department of Social Welfare and Development) Reception Study Center for Children,” Libunao said.

Libunao described the Bistro Emilio KTV Bar as “far from a typical restaurant” since she said it doesn’t have a kitchen and has only four tables and a couch where women in “skimpy outfits were seated while waiting for a client.”

“Most of the customers were foreigners,” Libunao claimed.

Libunao said the arrested suspects would be charged with violation of Republic Act 9208, or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. The rescued victims were turned over to the Manila City DSWD for proper disposition.