Two persons were arrested while 21 women were rescued from a Nueva Vizcaya videoke bar allegedly engaged in sex trafficking, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Monday, Aug. 15.
In a statement, the NBI identified those arrested by agents of the Bayombong District Office (NBI-BAYDO) as Evangelina Torres Escalante and Analyn Estabillo Torres of Sunrise Videoke Bar in Sta. Rosa, Bayombong.
“The operation stemmed on information received by NBI-BAYDO alleging that SUNRISE VIDEOKE BAR (Sunrise) is engaged in prostitution by employing women as Guest Relations Officers (GROs) who are being offered for sexual exploitation for a fee ranging from P1,500 to P3,000,” the NBI said.
“NBI-BAYDO immediately conducted surveillance operation, which confirmed the information that the bar is offering their GROs for sexual services. Thus, NBI-BAYDO planned an entrapment operation,” it said.
Following the entrapment operation, the two arrested women were presented for inquest before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Nueva Viscaya for violation of Republic Act No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, it also said.
The NBI said that the owner of the bar it identified as Christopher Jun Pernada Domingo was also criminally charged.