TWO Chinese nationals were arrested and six Vietnamese nationals were rescued during an operation in Makati City on Wednesday evening, a police official said on Thursday.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar identified the arrested suspects as Kuang Meiting and Li Xuemei, both Chinese nationals.
He said the two were arrested during an anti-human trafficking entrapment and rescue operations at Avida Asten Tower 2 in Barangay San Antonio around 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Eleazar said the operation stemmed from information they received regarding the proliferation of prostitution activities involving foreign nationals at the said address.
He said the suspects were using social media to attract clients for their illegal activities. Based on their promotion, there are Vietnamese, Chinese and Malaysian ladies being trafficked.
"Itong pagdami ng mga foreigners ay dapat na nache-check natin upang hindi magkaroon ng mga iba pang krimen na nangyayari lalo na kung ito ay involving the victimization of women, not necessarily na mga Pilipina pero gayon din naman ng mga foreigners na dinadala dito para maging sex slaves," said Eleazar.
He said further investigation revealed that there is a room in the said condominium which they call "show-up room", where clients can choose among the ladies.
They also have an option to use three available rooms in the condominium or to bring the ladies somewhere else.
Eleazar said that the Vietnamese women are using tourist visas.
They will be turned over to the social workers of Makati Police Station or the local government unit for appropriate disposition.
“Our coordinators will be coordinating with the Vietnamese Embassy para maibalik sila sa kanilang bansa according to the existing laws in the country,” said Eleazar.
The arrested suspects and confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the RSOU office for documentation and proper disposition.
Criminal complaints for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by RA 10364 also known as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2012, will be filed against the suspects.
The operation was conducted jointly by the NCRPO-Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU), Women and Children Protection Division-Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, and Makati Police Station. (SunStar Philippines)