The mall management says they’re not aware that sex workers have “set up shop” in the premises.
“National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently rescued 15 sex workers in a sting at the Isetan Mall in Recto, Manila,” reports Aie Balagtas See in The Philippine Star.
The report revealed that “the NBI’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTRAD) agents also arrested the sex workers’ two alleged handlers in another sting at the mall’s fourth and fifth floors.”
The two handlers were charged with violating Republic Acts 10364 (the law penalizing human trafficking) and 7610 (the law protecting children against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination) before the city prosecutor’s office.
According to NBI-AHTRAD, the operation was done based on a tip its agents received that prostitution is rampant at the mall.
The report added that “six women and nine minors (both male and female) were pimped for a minimum of PHP1,000 to PHP2,000.”
Screengrab of photo by Nekosugamo (Panoromio)
