Abalos: Probe prostitution in malls

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos ordered yesterday a thorough probe into reports that shopping malls in the city are now the favorite "hangouts" of male and female prostitutes.

Abalos tasked newly installed city police chief Superintendent Noel de los Reyes and Tito Enriquez, head of the Mayor's Action Group (MAG), to verify the reports that male and female prostitutes are openly transacting business inside SM Megamall along EDSA and Manuela Shopping Complex on Shaw Boulevard.

"I am surprised by the report. We will first look into it before a crackdown will be launched," said Abalos, pointing out that he will not tolerate this kind of operation as it contradicts his administration`s drive against prostitution.

However, the young mayor emphasized that local authorities would have a difficult time arresting suspected prostitutes as they may face human rights violation charges in the process. "We cannot just arrest the suspected prostitutes because we can be accused of human rights violation. We will set an undercover operation first and once we catch them, a subsequent arrest will be made," Abalos said.

Based on reports, the alleged sex workers, whose ages range from 17-25 years old ply their trade inside the two malls' food courts, cinemas and hallways where they usually meet prospective customers.

These supposed prostitutes, wearing expressive clothes with cellular phones, attract the customers by a mere smile that usually leads to a conversation that ends up with the alleged sex deal.

Asking fee is reportedly P500 to P1,000 in exchange for a few minutes sexual pleasure inside cinemas or in nearby motels.