Bar sued for hiring minors as dancers

CEBU, Philippines - For allegedly maintaining girls for prostitution, the floor manager and cashier of D’ Sisters Bar were sued for violation of the anti-human trafficking act before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.

In an inquest proceeding, Prosecutor Joseph Val Carillo gave respondents 15 days to file their counter-affidavits after the respondents executed a waiver of detention.

The police said they received reports regarding “acts of trafficking of women and children for prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation” at D’ Sisters Bar along Mango Ave., Barangay Cogon-Ramos, Cebu City.

PO3 Erwin Dumaguit and PO1 Cliferson Olandag said during their surveillance they found out that there was indeed trafficking.

“During the conduct of surveillance, Dumaguit told the mamasang that I have visitors who are Korean and Thailand nationals who will be coming over on the second week of June 2012. Mamasang then told me that in their establishment, D’ Sisters Bar, they have a penalty policy,” affidavit reads.

The penalty policy, more commonly known as the bar fine, provides that customers have to pay the bar P1,800 it they want to take the girls outside the bar.

After confirmation, police said they then informed their team leader Insp. Maria Theresa Macatangay. Last Friday, the operation was conducted and 17 girls, four of them suspected minors, were rescued.

The operation was conducted in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Justice and the Department of Labor and Employment.

The rescued girls were turned over to the DSWD.

In her affidavit, one of the girls said she applied to be a dancer to support her family. She said she was referred by a friend to the said bar where received a salary of P200 per night apart from tips and commissions.

Meanwhile, the Australian charged for seven counts of human trafficking and another for child abuse was arrested last Friday by the members of Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.

The Australian was arrested inside a hotel in Lapu-Lapu City around 6 p.m.He is accused of hiring three minor boys for sex. (FREEMAN)