By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
BORACAY — Owners and managers of establishments here accused of trafficking 35 women denied forcing them to have sex with clients.
They also accused the policemen who swooped down on their establishments last week of raiding without search warrant.
“We don’t force them. We don’t even recruit them. They voluntarily come to us. And they bring with them companions from Iloilo and Manila,” said Remar Legaspi, 27, Isla Bora videoke bar manager.
Legaspi also denied employing minors. “We don’t hire minors,” he said. “The women themselves negotiate with customers. They decide for themselves. They have pink cards, too.”
He also accused the raiders of taking their jewelry and money.
“Police took my boss’ personal belongings, including jewelry, mobile phones, bag, and money,” the bar manager claimed.
Thirty-four women and an alleged minor have been rescued from suspected human trafficking dens in this island resort.
Senior Inspector Mark Evan Salvo, Boracay police chief, had said the women were recruited from other provinces to work as waitresses in videoke bars but ended up as entertainers; worse, they were forced into prostitution.
Arrested along with Legaspi were Dodie Cawaling, 39, of Barangay Poblacion, Nabas town, owner of Zwamppy videoke bar in Barangay Manoc-manoc; Arlyn Serato, 39, of Barangay Yapak, owner of Wave 98 Videoke Bar; and Jack Castro, 42, of Barangay Manoc-manoc, owner of Isla Bora.
They were detained in the Kalibo police station pending the filing of human trafficking charges against them.
Joint elements of the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center and the Aklan Police Provincial Office, in coordination with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, conducted entrapment operations that led to the suspects’ arrest.
Police assets handed to the suspects marked money, ranging from P500 to P1,600, in exchange for sexual services.
Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion, acting provincial police director, said the rescued women were taken to the Daeangpan it Kababayenhan, a shelter for distressed women, in Kalibo. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
