NBI arrests Chinese nationals for Prostitution
THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation ( NBI) has arrested three Chinese in a five- star hotel in Pasay City for allegedly engaging in prostitution.
The bureau on Friday identified the suspects as Liang Feng and Lu Fi Xing, who were allegedly engaged in the operation of a prostitution den; and Chen Xun Bo, who was caught in the act of prostitution. They were arrested on November 11.
NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin, said the Chinese’s modus operandi had evolved from soliciting in clubs to renting out multiple rooms.
One room was used as the viewing room, while the other three were used for the illegal act, Lavin said.
According to Joel Toverra, chief of the NBI’s Anti- Organized and Transnational Crime Division, they received information that a group of Chinese were operating a prostitution den in a hotel and casino establishment along Roxas Boulevard and Chinese women are flown the Philippines from China to specifically engage in prostitution.
“They only cater to Chinese, [but of course],
may mga Pinoy na driver ‘yan (they have Filipino drivers),” Toverra said.
During the entrapment operation, the NBI used a Chinese operative who was in contact with the pimp before going to the fourth floor of the hotel. Operatives immediately entered the room were they arrested Feng and Xing.
Recovered evidences were several condoms, two notebooks containing the suspects’ alleged sexual transactions, cellular phones, a calculator, VIP casino cards and key cards for the other rooms.
The transaction costs P5,000 per 30 minutes of engagement and the group scout their prospective clients through WeChat, Lavin said.
The involvement of the hotel’s management is still under investigation, Lavin said while reminding hotel owners to exercise “due diligence.”
Feng and Xing were charged for qualified trafficking in persons, while Bo was charged for use of trafficked persons as qualified under Republic Act 9208.
The six rescued Chinese victims are currently in the custody of NBI while awaiting updates from the Bureau of Immigration and the Chinese Embassy upon turnover requests.