Three nightclubs and bars in Angeles City were raided earlier this week.
The Angeles City based non-government organisation, the “Crusade Against Good Custom and Decency International”, a group campaigning against sex tourism, is believed to be behind the action. The raid was conducted by the “Criminal Detection and Investigation Group” (CIDG), of the Philippine National Police and led by Superintendent Emma Lubiano from the “Women and Childrens Desk” of the CIDG.
Terence John Smith, manager of the Sunshine Bar was arrested along with Christopher Tan of the Blue Nile. These dudes and around 70 young women were taken to Camp Crame in Manila for questioning. Many of the women “kept cursing us and tried their best to escape,” said Supt. Lubinao. Smith is believed to have been charged with human trafficking and, if convicted, faces a lengthy spell behind bars.
Richard Agnew was not present at the time of the raid on the Golden Nile but is expected to be charged with human trafficking.
The Department of Justice has asked that the three bars raided be issued with Closure Notices by the Department of Labor and Employment.
AC Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said, “That is why I keep on reminding bar owners to observe and comply with national laws and local ordinances concerning their operations to avoid these incidents of raids conducted by the national law enforcement agencies.”
Pamintuan stressed that his administration will continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and begin to implement a more sustainable program at improving and ridding Fields Avenue of human trafficking and sex trade.
“This will include a total revision of the physical and business outlook of Fields Avenue as a legitimate and wholesome tourist destination,” Pamintuan said.
Pamintuan emphasized the need for the city’s tourism plan to gain full support from the businessmen and other stakeholders.
“In light of the close scrutiny on the entertainment strip, it becomes all the more necessary to concretize the transformation of Fields Avenue into a wholesome district filled with bars and restaurants and with a controlled area for adult entertainment,” he said.
Among his first official acts as mayor, Pamintuan issued Executive Order No. 13 on July 23, 2010 creating the Angeles City Task Force Against Human Trafficking which provides the regulatory and enforcement infrastructure and the social, moral and economic rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking.
To help curb human trafficking in Angeles City, the city government will come up with an ordinance setting minimum age of women working in night clubs to 21 years.
Pamintuan also called for an organization of night club and entertainment industry workers and establishment owners for the purpose of policing their own ranks and strict implementation of local regulations on business permits, licenses and tax payments.
COMMENT
Even though prostitution is illegal in the Philippines it is ubiquitous. In my experience no foreign bar owner or manager will sanction the employment of under age or unwilling girls as waitresses, cashiers, dancers or GROs. They rely on the integrity of the City Hall licensing system that is supposed to ensure that anyone engaged in the sex trade is of legal age. Surely if anyone is to blame for under-age girls being employed it is those at City Hall who issue the licenses or those who provide, what I assume must be, false documentation to the girls that enables them to find employment in the industry. I do, however, welcome the mayor’s suggestion that the minimum age of workers in the industry be raised to 21.
sources: JC at Margarita Station Update, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Standard, www.acgovt.com.ph
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