Thirty-two nightclub dancers were rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation during a raid on an uptown bar the other night.
The NBI also arrested Joel Manolong, operations manager of Midnight Sun Bar located at the ground floor of Adela building along Gen. Maxilom Ave., and his assistant Sheila Dedicatoria for alleged violation of the Human Trafficking Act.
The NBI conducted a surveillance of the said nightclub after receiving reports of illegal activities there.
Supervising agent Jesus Manapat and special investigator Florante Gaoiran posed as customers to verify the information that the said bar is engaged in prostitution.
After having confirmed the information, an entrapment operation was set for Thursday night when agents posed as solicitors looking for some company.
Dedicatoria received the P200 marked money as part of the P1,700 bar fine to bring the dancer outside for sex.
Manolong, who was in the night club during the operation, was also arrested for being the operations manager. The 32 dancers rescued by the NBI were later release after none of them were found to be minors.
The NBI is filing criminal charges for qualified trafficking, which is a heinous crime, against Manolong, Dedicatoria and the registered owner a certain Edeliza Hansen before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office. — Fred P. Languido/BRP