Mayor Binay shuts down Makati hotel following rescue of sex workers

Makati Mayor Abby Binay ordered the closure of a 10storeyhotel allegedly used as a prostitution den after police rescued 35 Chinese and Vietnamese women during a raid Monday night.

Inspectors from the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) serve the closure order on Maxx Hotel in Barangay Poblacion for violating Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

Major Gideon Ines Jr., Makati Police Investigation Unit chief, said that the Maxx Hotel is being rented and run by a Chinese national.

“We found out that the hotel is being run and rented by a Chinese national. He pays the Filipino owner 11.2 million per month,” he said.

However, Ines said they were unable to apprehend him because he was not present during the raid conducted around 11 p.m.

Most of the customers of the alleged prostitution den, he said, were foreigners, specifically POGO workers. “We have arrested 20 male customers of the prostitution den. Most of them are POGO workers, they are Chinese nationals,” Ines said.

“We also arrested the pimp who usually stays at the entrance of the hotel to offer women to their walk in clients. They send pictures of women through Whatsapp application. Then, they select there who they want,” the Investigation Unit head said.

According to Ines, all the 35 sex workers rescued are foreigners, saying there is no Filipino among them.

The women are reportedly being paid around 120,000 by their foreign customers.

“The women are being paid about 120,000 per transaction. They check in at the Maxx Hotel the pimp had made a deal with a foreign customer,” he said. “The hotel charges 13,500 per stay.”

Ines said they found sex toys, condoms, lubes, lingerie, and imported viagras at the said hotel.

Also apprehended during the operation were the 26 personnel of the hotel, including bellboys.

Cops also seized 11 million from cashier of the hotel.

Ines said that they used 1 45, 000 marked money to transact with the pimp at the entrance of the hotel.