11 rescued from sex den

At least 11 female minors, including a 13-year-old, were rescued by police yesterday from a white slavery syndicate after two "recruits" managed to escape a brothel in Caloocan City.

The victims, all natives of Samar, were found in a rented apartment on 3rd Avenue at around 2:30 p.m., Chief Inspector Rafael Santiago, NPD intelligence and investigation division chief, said.

According to the girls, the prostitution den was being maintained by a certain "Nene." The suspect, also from Samar, was not around when the raid was conducted, but one Tony Milka, 42, an alleged pimp, was arrested.

Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., NPD director, ordered the raid on the suspected prostitution den after a relative of the two girls, who had escaped earlier, sought his assistance.

A team, led by Senior Inspector Ferdinand del Rosario, Senior Inspector Edmund Manalang and PO2 Rosel delos Reyes, swooped down on the apartment resulting in the rescue.

The two girls who had earlier escaped directed police to the house. The girls claimed they were recruited in Samar province by a certain Jelpa to work in a restaurant. Upon arrival in Manila last July 30, Jelpa herded the new recruits to the Caloocan apartment and transacted business with Nene.

According to the girls, the asking fee for the services of virgins could reach as high as P7,000 while "veterans" were sold for P200 to P300.

The girls said that several of their fellow recruits were delivered by Milka to foreigners in different hotels and motels in Metro Manila. The two escaped from their quarters before they could fall prey to the flesh trade.

Asked about the girls’ allegations, Milka vehemently denied the charges, saying he is just a cook in the apartment.

Milka was arrested and slapped with violation of Republic Act 7658, or the Child Labor Law and RA 7610 or the Child Abuse Law while the rescued girls were turned over to the local Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).