MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has bared a new modus operandi of a prostitution ring following the arrest of an alleged pimp and two minors in Manila last Tuesday.
The rescued minors, a boy and a girl who are both 17 years old, allegedly referred to Mark Eugine Ando for a fee those willing to offer sexual services, said Janet Francisco, head of the National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division, in a press conference on Thursday.
“This is a new modus operandi of a sex syndicate, where he uses minors who are considered children in conflict with the law,” NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said yesterday.
Ando and the two minors, who were placed with the Manila social welfare office, were charged with human trafficking before the Department of Justice.
Eight women and five girls were rescued during the operation. Ando allegedly offered the victims’ sexual services for P5,000 each. The girls were aged 13 to 17 years old.