43 women rescued from Malate club

MANILA, Philippines - Forty-three women, including 14 Chinese, were found to be working illegally at an entertainment club in Malate, Manila before dawn yesterday.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Human Trafficking Division rescued the women and arrested six persons during a raid on Top Emperor Entertainment Club at the Royal Plaza Twin Tower along Remedios street, according to special investigator Doriente Durian.

Police officers are considering filing charges against the club’s four floor managers – Irma Flores-Quiambao, Ting-Ting Zhu, Ianne Villanueva-Ocampo and Wilsonn Tee Ten Tan. The club reportedly started operating only two months ago.

Durian said they are planning to charge the managers with violating Republic Act 9208, the law against human trafficking, with the Department of Justice.

If there are minors among those rescued, they might throw in additional charges against the managers.

The NBI officer said violating RA 9208 is considered a non-bailable offense as it involves trafficking three or more people over international border. In this case, 14 foreigners are involved.

“It is clear that they came from mainland China and they were trafficked to the Philippines to work and they were unable to present working permits. Their documents might have even been falsified,” Durian said.

The Chinese women could not speak Filipino or English. They were hired to cater to the club’s Chinese patrons.

Durian said the 29 Filipinas rescued during the raid may be charged with prostitution.

The NBI found that patrons could pay P10,000 for a Filipina and P15,000 for a Chinese woman and take them out of the club for the night, Durian said.