Belmonte orders Quezon City cinema shut down

MANILA, Philippines - Upon orders of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Quezon City policemen shut down Thursday a rundown theater in Cubao following repeated raids for being a “haven” of prostitution and pornography.

Operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), led by Chief Inspector Ritchie Claravall, raided the Alta Theater at the corner of Aurora Boulevard and Standford street and closed it.

Policemen rounded up 64 men, suspected of being sex workers, and their patrons. Most of those rounded up were middle-aged, and some were found hiding in the ceiling of the three-story cinema.

Claravall said they also confiscated 15 reels of porn films, which he said would be used as evidence against the owner of the theater.

Superintendent Ferdinand Ampil, commander of the QCPD-Station7, said they will charge the owners of the theater for the exhibition of lewd shows.

“The operators are saying they had nothing to do with what’s going on inside the cinema. But that’s just an alibi,” Ampil said.

In his order, Belmonte directed authorities to continuously investigate the theater management and “punish those found guilty.”

According to Ampil, they will recommend the permanent closure of the cinema.

QCPD Intelligence Division head Superintendent Nestor Abalos earlier said they recommended to the city government’s business permit and licensing office the closure of the cinema house after repeated raids that resulted in the rounding up of sex workers and their clients.

The most recent raid was conducted earlier this month, he said, adding, “It’s public knowledge that it has become a haven for prostitution.”          – Reinir Padua