Authorities raided a massage spa in Pasay City, uncovering human trafficking and illegal “extra services,” leading to the rescue of four women and the shutdown of the establishment pending further investigation.
The spa, which operated under the guise of providing legitimate massage services, was found to be offering “extra services,” a term commonly used to refer to sexual services.
Operatives from the Pasay City Police, Pasay LGU, and DSWD conducted the raid at around 9 PM on Saturday. The spa was found to be providing additional services beyond massages.
“Meron tayong pinapasok na nagpanggap bilang isang customer at doon po natin napatunayan na meron ngang illegal na activity itong establisymento na ito.” (We sent in an undercover agent posing as a customer and confirmed that illegal activities were indeed taking place in this establishment),” said Police Colonel Samuel Pabonita, chief of Pasay Police Station.
“Talagang nakita na meron talagang hindi maganda. Naging sex den ito imbes na spa lang,” (We saw that something inappropriate was happening. It had become a sex den instead of just a spa), added Pasay City Mayor Imelda “Emy” Calixto-Rubiano.
According to Pabonita, there were about ten women and two men working at the spa. Four women were rescued.
“Wala naman kaming nakitang mga minors. Lahat sila ay nasa tamang mga edad. Ang range ng kanilang edad is from 22-28,” (We did not find any minors. All of them were of legal age, ranging from 22 to 28 years old,) said Social Welfare Officer III Leonor Loor.
Among those arrested were the receptionist and cashier of the establishment.
During the raid, authorities confiscated incriminating evidence, including a box of condoms and several cellphones.
Authorities are now on the lookout for the manager and owner of the spa, who will face charges related to human trafficking.
Additionally, it was discovered that the spa lacked the necessary business permit to operate legally.
“Nakadikit po yun sa pader ma’am kaso naglaglagan po…meron po ma’am, kasi nilalakad po ‘yan ma’am e,” (It was posted on the wall, ma’am, but it fell off… we do have it, ma’am, because we were processing it, ma’am,) said the receptionist.