THREE commercial sex workers were apprehended in Barangay Kamputhaw, by police after they were caught offering discounted rates of their services to civilian volunteers of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) during an Oplan Bulabog operation on Tuesday midnight, Jan. 18, 2022.
Aida, Lorna and Fe (not their real names) were reportedly walking along Juana Osmeña St. in Kamputhaw to look for customers when they decided to offer their services to a couple of men passing by.
They didn’t realize that the men they were offering sex to were civilian volunteers who were participating in the Oplan Bulabog operation.
The three were eventually turned over to the CCPO personnel, the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (Probe) team and the Cebu City Environment and Sanitation Team (Ceset).
The three groups were roving places near bars and leisure areas in uptown and downtown areas of Cebu City to strictly implement the city’s new curfew from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. now that another Covid-19 surge is occurring after the holidays.
When they were apprehended, Aida explained to police officers that she and her companions were offering discounted rates for their services as a way to attract customers.
From their usual P2,500 they are offering to men in exchange for sex, the three women offered their services for just P1,500.
The three were also working overtime so that they can earn more money.
The women lamented that due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette (Rai), they could no longer earn much from their trade.
Before their arrest, the women said they were puzzled on how they could earn their keep through their “usual ways.”
“Because of the pandemic, only a few men want to avail themselves of our services. That’s why we just lowered the price so that we can attract more men. But aside from the pandemic, even Typhoon Odette also affected our clientele as well,” Aida said in Cebuano.
The three women were eventually apprehended and temporarily placed under custody of the local police.
For violating the curfew, each of the three women were issued with a violation ticket, which states the fine that they need to pay for. (Alan Tangcawan / JKV)