Sitoy: Ban "sexual acts" in massage parlors

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Provincial Board has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance that seeks to penalize those who tolerate or engaged in sexual acts inside a massage par-lor operating in the province.

Provincial Board Member Arleigh Sitoy, author of the ordinance, said that the promotion of Cebu as top tourism destination for health and wellness has spawned the proliferation of massage parlors.

However, some of these establishments, if not most of it, have been used as fronts for human trafficking and prostitution.

Sitoy said that this is a fact because this has been reported already in the media and even recorded in the police blotters.

"The deplorable activities performed or perpetrated inside the massage establishments, if allowed to continue unabated, may put blight to the creditable efforts put in by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Trade and Industry in pushing Cebu as a premier tourist haven," reads the draft ordinance.

The draft ordinance also specified that it is stipulated in section 468 of the Republic act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, empowers the Sangguniang Panlungsod to enact ordinances which intend to curb prostitution or repress the establishment of ill-repute houses and such other activities inimical to the welfare and morals of the inhabitants of the province.

Once the said ordinance is approved, massage parlors will be prohibited to tolerate any act of sexual intercourse inside their establishments regardless or whether it is facilitated via a private arrangement or dealing between the client and the massage therapists and the person or upon the direct solicitation of the management.

Any persons who shall commit such act will be fined P5,000 or an imprisonment of not more than a year or both depending upon the court's discretion. Violation of the ordinance will automatically become a ground for cancellation of the business permits.

It was not, however, mentioned how the provincial government will monitor the compliance of the massage parlors to the ordinance once it is implemented.  (FREEMAN)