White slavery raps filed vs Navotas sauna owner

A Filipino-Chinese businessman is facing white slavery and child exploitation charges for allegedly maintaining an alleged prostitution den in Navotas.

Higino Te, alias Tony Sy, owner of Naval Sauna Bath and Massage Parlor at 1054 M. Naval street, North Bay Boulevard South, Navotas, was charged in the Navotas Prosecutor’s Office after a police raid on his establishment last Thursday resulted in the arrest of at least 44 women workers and the rescue of a 15-year-old girl.

The girl, a native of Samar, who claimed to have dropped out of school to work only as a canteen helper of the massage parlor was immediately turned to her parents.

During the raid on the sauna parlor, tagged as a front for prostitution, elements of the Northern Police District- Special Operations Group and the Women and Children’s Concerns Desk, reportedly caught Marlyn Cajuban, 26, having sex with a member of the raiding team who posed as a customer.

Officer-on-case PO1 Rosel delos Reyes, however, doubted whether their case against the establishment’s owner could standup in court.

"I doubt whether our case will prosper in court," she told The STAR.

According to Delos Reyes, the camera used by the SOG to photograph the sex act was defective. Chief Inspector Michael Angelo Martin, head of the newly formed SOG, led the operation.

"Lacking material evidence, how could you prove your case?" Delos Reyes asked.

Delos Reyes added that late last year, the NPD operatives also raided the said massage parlor and charged its owner with white slavery but their efforts were futile.

Highly placed sources, however, claimed that the Naval Sauna Bath has been the subject of several raids in the past but still it continues to operate as it enjoys protection from some unscrupulous local and police officials.

Te or Sy, who according to Delos Reyes, uses several other aliases remains at large. – Pete Laude