Manila cop, 6 others charged with human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines—A case of qualified trafficking in persons has been filed in the Manila Regional Trial Court against six people working for a night club allegedly owned by a Manila policeman, who himself faces similar charges, for hiring guest relation officers  to engage in pornography by putting on indecent shows and offering customers sex for money.

The National Bureau of Investigation-Anti Human Trafficking in Persons Division filed the complaint against Manuel Cabrera, supervisor; Rosalyn Balagtas, Edilberto Tuliao and July Manalang, floor managers; Ryan Albinco, waiter, and Angie Yumol, cashier.

The city prosecutor’s office recommended that Police Officer 2 Ryan Punzalan, the alleged owner of Pantasya KTV on Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila’s Sta. Cruz district, undergo preliminary investigation as he was not among those arrested in the March 8 raid who had undergone an inquest.

The six respondents were detained at the NBI headquarters following the raid.

The NBI conducted the operation after receiving a complaint from a public affairs television show that a policeman was engaged in the prostitution business.

Records of the case show that two teams posed as customers and  saw nude women dancing on the stage. After an hour, the dancers were introduced by Balagtas to the agents who were then asked if they wanted to have sex in the VIP room for P1,500.

“Sir gusto nyo bang gumimik? May VIP room kami para sa ganyang service (Sir, you want a gimmick. We have a VIP room for such a service),” the agent quoted the floor manager in an affidavit.

When marked money was handed over to waiter Albinco, the agent informed the ground commander that the transaction had been completed.

The group waiting outside then rushed in to arrest the staff and rescue 18 GROs.

One of the women admitted having sex with customers in exchange for money while the others said they just put on indecent shows.

They said they were paid P500 a day if they attained the quota of six ladies’ drinks a night and P250 if they didn’t.

The rescued GROs identified the arrested staff and their respective positions. They also identified Punzalan as the owner.

Albinco, Balagtas, Tuliao and Manalang said in their counter-affidavit that they were just waiters/waitresses who attended to customers while Cabrera said he was the head waiter.

The counter-affidavit said the complainants misinterpreted the “gimik” offered at the VIP room, saying it was just for the privacy and convenience of customers. They said the P1,500 was consumable and not for sexual services.