Miriam seeks better protection for prostitution victims

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed a bill seeking increased protection for victims of prostitution while imposing stiffer penalties on pimps, motel owners and policemen involved.

In filing Senate Bill 1817, or the proposed Anti-Prostitution Act of 2004, Santigao wants more accountability on the exploiter and trafficker of a prostituted person.

"How many times have we seen prostitution pimps waving their hands to invite prospective customers along major streets in the metropolis during night time? As if nobody will care to arrest or jail them because they are friends of the roving police teams," the senator said.

With the bill being passed into law, she said victims of prostitution — with or without their consent — shall be given expanded protection while their exploiters and other cohorts will be firmly punished once proven of their guilt.

Under Santiago’s bill, owners of motels and lodging houses will face harsh sanctions if their establishments are used as brothels.

"There seems to be a connivance between some motel owners, pimps, victims and presumably the police which must immediately be looked upon and stopped," she said.

"Even local government units will be obliged to hunt down prostitution dens masquerading as disco bars and videoke clubs," she said.

A certain motel on Quezon Avenue and a street corner, she cited, is reportedly a designated favorite hangout of women prostitutes.

She said it is lamentable that even local policemen are alleged to be tolerating and even the ones exploiting the plight of women lured into prostitution.

Santiago asked Philippine National Police chief Director General Edgar Aglipay to look into policemen reportedly receiving protection money from prostitution pimps visibly making their living along Quezon Avenue and Cubao in Quezon City.

"Let us not close our eyes (to prostitution). These pimps and victims can never be there waving their hands (to invite customers) if policemen manning the area won’t allow them," she said. "The passage into law of this bill will pave the way to winning this tough battle we have waged against prostitution."