Online selling sites as prostitution fronts? Belmonte wants PNP probe

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday asked the Philippine National Police to crack down on certain online selling websites that appeared to be fronts for prostitution.

Belmonte issued the call after seeing photos of scantily clad women in the testimonial sections of certain products, particularly women’s dresses and undergarments.

“I smell something fishy here. Mukhang nakakita na naman ng bagong paraan ang mga sindikatong gamit ang mga lehitimong websites para maisulong ang kanilang ilegal na gawain,” Belmonte said in a statement.

She called on the PNP to include this in its monitoring of social media sites where they look for quarantine violators.

The police have been directed recently to instruct their social media networking team to monitor viral health protocol violations.

“Nananawagan ako sa ating kapulisan na tingnan itong mabuti. Hindi natin dapat palampasin ang mga ganitong aktibidad na nakasisira sa moralidad ng ating lipunan,” she added

(I call the police to diligently look into this. We should not let these activities that compromise the morality of our society come to pass.)

Belmonte, an advocate for women’s rights, has signed ordinances protecting women in the city including the establishment of the QC Protection Center (QCPC), which acts as a one-stop-shop crisis center for victims of violence, harassment and abuse. (Miggy Dumlao, trainee)