Police, LGU raid 3 ‘prostitution dens’ in Pototan
Three prostitution dens masquerading as videoke bars in Pototan, Iloilo were raided over the weekend by a joint enforcement team from Pototan Police Station and the municipal government led by Councilor Pedro Palu-ay.
Twelve female workers were arrested.
At around 11 p.m. on Saturday, the raiding team entered Paradise KTV bar at Brgy. Rumbang and arrested five of its workers.
Owned by Hermenia Estalao, 53, of Brgy. Hanipa-an East, Mina town, the videoke bar sheltered several cubicles behind the establishment.
Sources called these cubicles “Kwarto sang Kalingawan,” referring to a place where workers could give “temporary happiness” to their customers.
The raid led to the arrest of Jeany Rose Naval, 19, of Marina St. San Jose, Antique; Crystal Mariel Maria Chezy Serbo, 19, of Brgy. Pasong, Sibalom, Antique; Micheel Clamano, 22, widower, of Brgy. Tuy-an, Cabatuan, Iloilo; Diane Donguez, 20, of Poblacion 3, Hamtic, Antique; and Irish Angel Martinez, 19, of Gumaot East, Block 2, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
Thirty minutes later, the same team proceeded to the nearby Along the Highway KTV bar in Brgy. Amamaros, owned by Jenalyn Patanao, 30, of Brgy. Amiroy, Mina town.
Workers Shella Reyes, 27, and Rose Jardeliza, 29, both of Victorias City, Negros Occidental; and Charlyn Casamorelio, 23, of Calinog, Iloilo were arrested.
“We were just puzzled because it’s license is for a videoke bar but we found cubicles with makeshift beds in the place,” Paluay said.
Shortly before midnight, the team raided Tabun-ak KTV bar in Brgy. Batuan owned by Pursiso Parreño where they found female workers inside the cubicle with some men, believed to be their customers.
Arrested were Mariane dela Peña, 25, of Molo, Iloilo City; Anna Gracia, 32, of Brgy. Camenia Nuevo, Zamboanga City; Candelaria Nacionalis, 26, of Brgy. Camangyan, Guimbal, Iloilo; and Jessica Aguilar, 22, of Brgy. Lacaran, Dumangas, Iloilo.
Elma Paguntalan of Pototan Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office said the prostitution activities of these KTV bars were known after a town health worker reported that a number of women checked for pap smear were found positive for gonorrhea.
Insp. Charlie Sustento, Pototan deputy police chief, said most of the arrested women used to work for videoke bars in the nearby Passi City and Mina town.
“But videoke bars in Passi City stopped operating because of a municipal ordinance banning operations of similar establishments. A number of female workers transferred to Pototan,” he added.
Sustento said several videoke bars in Mina also closed shop.
“So that left their workers unemployed. Most of them also transferred to Pototan,” he said.
But even before the raids, the town’s vicar already complained against the rampant prostitution activities in the area.
