CEBU, Philippines - An owner of a lingam massage parlor in Mabolo, Cebu City and a customer were slapped with a criminal charge before the court for allegedly violating the Anti-Human Trafficking Law.
Honey Lou Mirafuentes-Yoo, owner of Authentic Lingam Massage, is facing a case before the Regional Trial Court for the violation of Section 4 of Republic Act 9208, otherwise known as the Trafficking in Person Law.
Customer Nathaniel S. Ebarita is also facing a charge for allegedly violating Section 11 of RA 9208.
Section 4 of RA 9208 prohibits the hiring of a person to engage in prostitution or pornography while Section 11 of the law prohibits anyone from engaging the services of trafficked persons for prostitution.
The law carries a penalty of six months of community service and a fine of P50,000 for the first offense, and one-year imprisonment and a fine of P100,000 for the second and subsequent offenses.
Prosecutor Maria Theresa Calibugan-Casiño recommended a bail of P200,000 for Yoo and P2,000 for Ebarita.
In her resolution, Casiño dismissed the indecent show/pornography complaint filed against Alma Casicas and Fel Angie Ocampo, workers at the massage parlor, for lack of merit.
Casiño ordered the police to release Casicas and Ocampo from their custody.
However, Casiño found probable cause in the charges against Ebarita and Yoo and subsequently elevated them to the court.
In their affidavit, the police claimed that pursuant to City Ordinance No. 1408, they inspected the massage parlor and found Ebarita lying on top of a naked Casicas who was allegedly massaging his genitals while Ocampo was massaging the head of Ebarita.
The police stated that despite the presence of the inspecting team from Cebu City Police Office, Ocampo and Casicas continued their performance.
But Casiño turned down their claim for lack of merit. (FREEMAN)