Cops raid gay bar in Sta. Cruz

MANILA, Philippines - Police raided after midnight yesterday a gay bar in Sta. Cruz, Manila following reports that the club is a front for male prostitution.

Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay ordered the raid on the Men’s Court Club along Rizal Avenue in Sta. Cruz after he was shown video footages of young men dancing nude and performing sex acts on the stage videotaped by the reportorial crew of Channel 7’s “Imbestigador” program.

General Assignment Section chief Senior Inspector Marcelo Reyes led his operatives in the raid by pretending as customers together with GMA 7’s reportorial team who discreetly recorded the male and gay performers on the stage.

When the gay dancer, aged 23, started to remove his briefs exposing his private parts on the stage, Reyes signaled his men to move in. Fourteen male dancers, five gay impersonators, two waiters, the cashier and the owner were rounded up.

Reyes said the workers have no working permit while the owner failed to show his license to operate. According to Reyes, two tabloid reporters, suspected of protecting the establishment, tried to intimidate the raiding team by threatening to write derogatory articles against them. “I told (the reporters) point blank that they can write anything against me and my men but we will never be intimidated into performing our sworn duty,” Reyes said.

The 21 personnel were brought to the Ospital ng Maynila for the routine medical check-up. Reyes said the club employees will be charged with working without permit, while additional charges of performing lewd shows will be filed against him.