Two spas raided for “extra service”

CEBU, Philippines —  For allegedly offering “extra service,” two spa businesses in Mandaue City, including one believed to be owned by a former police officer, were busted during a simultaneous entrapment and rescue operations conducted by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 last Friday night.

The operations were jointly coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

NBI Special Agent Agapito Gierran, one of those in charge of the operations, said they initiated the raids after receiving complaints about the two spas in Barangays Subangdaku and Tipolo for allegedly offering sexual favors, aside from their spa services.

Gierran said they conducted surveillance on the two establishments for a week after receiving complaints.

The raid netted 22 individuals – a receptionist from each spa, 13 massage therapists from the Subangdaku spa and another six from Tipolo.

The owner in the Tipolo spa, who is believed to be a former police official, was also arrested.

All massage therapists rescued were women, and mostly from Mindanao.

The rescued masseuses were already under the custody of the DSWD and would undergo post-care therapy.

Gierran said they are still yet to identify if some of the massage therapists are minors.

He narrated that the spa in Subangdaku reportedly offered the so-called "Bengali massage" for P1,500, wherein the masseuses would service their clients naked to activate their sexual orgasm.

Another service the spa is offering is the so-called "extra service" for P3,500, where the masseuses would allegedly do other sexual acts with the clients.

In March this year, the NBI also raided two massage parlors along Hernan Cortes Street in Mandaue City, leading to the rescue of 20 masseuses.

The owners, if found guilty, would possibly face charges for human trafficking violation, which is punishable by life imprisonment and a fine of not less than P2 million but not more than P5 million.

"Kaning trafficking na case usa ni sa mandato sa NBI.  Primary mandate ni namo nga e-monitor ni nga illegal activities," said Gierran.  – Jane Robhe Yara, GAN (FREEMAN)