Sauna parlor raided

Police rounded up 16 sauna attendants, one of them caught having sexual intercourse with a police undercover agent, during a raid Thursday at a sauna and massage parlor in Makati City.

Superintendent Bayani de la Rea, head of the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO) said he ordered the raid at the Topaz Hydro Massage on Yakal Street in Makati City amid reports that the place was a front for prostitution.

De la Rea said one of the attendants was caught having sex with a police agent who posed as a customer.

After arresting the woman, RISOO operative proceeded to the parlor’s showroom where 15 other massage attendants on display to customers were rounded up.

The attendants, ages ranging from 23 to 40 years old, did not resist.

According to De la Rea, the establishment is owned by a corporation.

He said the raid came following complaints from barangay officials that the health parlor was a prostitution front.

"This is a product of close cooperation between the police and barangay officials of Makati City," said De la Rea noting that it was the third establishment raided by his men since last month.

According to De la Rea, the cashier and manager were around when the raid was conducted but his men left them alone because there was no complaint against them.

Those arrested denied that they were commercial sex workers and insisted that they were mere massage attendants.

Santos was charged with violation of Art. 202 of the revised penal code (anti-prostitution) in the Makati City prosecutor’s office.

The 15 other attendants will be charged with working without permits. – Non Alquitran