The Quezon City government has ordered the closure of a hotel where about 20 people, mostly minors, were allegedly victims of pimping, according to the “24 Oras” report of Sandra Aguinaldo.
At least 24 minors were rescued in a hotel in Novaliches on Wednesday evening.
According to the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center, there were 10 girls and 14 boys aged 17 and below.
Police Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad, PNP Women and Children Protection Center chief said they arrested an individual in one of their operations who gave names of the pimps, the name of motel and room number occupied by the victims.
The PNP is investigating the motel in Novaliches and following leads on some pimps.
“Sa ngayon hindi pa namin masabi na organized or syndicated ‘yung set up nila, pero malaki ang nakikita natin. HIndi man kone-connected, pero iisa ang modus nila,” said Manalad.
(Right now we can’t say if their set up is organized or syndicated, but we see a lot. They may not be connected, but their modus operandi is the same.)
“Online mo ibo-book… ‘yung mga minor then doon na sa hotel or doon sa room kung saan sila naka-hold, ibo-book ng kliyente ‘yung mga bata,” she added.
(You book the minors online… then at the hotel or in the room where they are being held, the client will book the children.)
Many of the rescued minors have been reunited with their parents, who did not know what their children got themselves into.
“Sana ‘yung mga magulang din marinig kami sana ‘yung mga bata ay bantayan natin…. kung sila ay nasa eskuwelahan. Mas magandang malaman natin na talagang pumapasok sila,” Manalad said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will help in monitoring the children so that they disappear from the system completely. — BAP, GMA Integrated News