Jaguar KTV bar ordered closed

A NOTICE of closure was posted yesterday by the Department of Labor and Employment on the door of Jaguar KTV bar in barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

After a raid last April confirmed that the bar employed minors in sex shows and underage girls were offered to customers, the bar was shut down shortly after.

The labor department found the bar liable for violating Republic Act 9231 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Two minors were among the 146 female rescued from Jaguar KTV last April 9.

Tthe closure order was signed by DOLE Regional Director Excequiel Sarcauga last Aug. 2.

The order said the respondents were found guilty of employing minors and the establishment engaged their employees in prostitution.

DOLE representatives were accompanied by representatives of the International Justice Mission and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) who filed the petition for permanent closure withDOLE.

DOLE lawyer Roy Buenafe said the establishment could still file for a motion to lift the closure order.

“They can still use the building, but it should be under a different business and a different business name,” he said.

“We will continue to monitor their compliance of the order,” Buenafe said.

Rose Marie Salazar, DSWD-7 women’s welfare specialist, said the two minors rescued from the bar were staying in a placement center and were provided e food, shelter and education.

“We are taking care of their rehabilitation and re-integration,” Salazar said.

A security guard outside Jaguar said the establishment had been closed for months.

The door of the building was chained and DOLE representatives posted the closure order on the door.

Sam Inocencio, IJM deputy field director, said the closure showed that the government was serious in the fight against human trafficking.

Charges of illegal-trafficking and child abuse against the owners and manager of the bar are still pending in Cebu city regional trial court.

Last May 24, Cebu city mayor Mike Rama ordered the revocation of the business permit of the KTV.

The owners, whose names are withheld as prescribed by the anti-trafficking law, are still at large. Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya