Tuesday, April 08, 2008 Talisay curfew fails to stop prostitution
THE enforcement of a 10 p.m. curfew has reportedly failed to curb the alleged existence of minor prostitution in Talisay City.
Councilor Shirley Belleza, committee chairperson on family, women and children, said she has been receiving persistent reports of minors that continue to hang out at karaoke joints along the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) in Barangay Lawaan I.
Belleza said the karaoke joints have reportedly been employing these minors as waitresses, who in turn, get a cut of P10 per serving of beer.
The lady legislator is calling the City Treasurer’s Office to check if these karaoke stores have secured business permits from City Hall.
Belleza was also bothered by reports that the area has already been tagged as Talisay’s version of Junquera, a known red-light district in Cebu City.
Karaoke male clients would reportedly get a chance to take three minors for only P100 or as locals term it as “3-in-1.”
Belleza called on the police and barangay officials to nip this alleged prostitution problem in the bud to maintain Talisay’s image as a wholesome “Aqua City” in Cebu.
Not good
The alleged existence of child prostitution does not look good because these karaoke joints are near the Talisay City Hall.
City Hall has already enjoined all the 22 barangays to enforce the City’s curfew ordinance that bars minors from hanging around outside their residences beyond 10 p.m.
The ordinance, however, imposes only minimal fees on the violators such as P50, P100 and P200 for first, second and third offenders, respectively.
Rugby users
The move is meant to curb the existence of child prostitution and increasing number of rugby users.
In last January’s saturation drive, authorities rounded up 21 rugby boys and 16 teenagers, believed to be engaged in prostitution.
The rugby boys were arrested in Barangay Tabunok while the 16 teenagers were separately rounded up in Barangays San Isidro, Lawaan I and Tanke. (GC)
