Recently in Pasay City, a Chinese national was convicted by a Regional Trial Court (RTC) for operating a prostitution operation that was flocked by employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), according to a GMA Network news report. The said operation offered Filipino women to the customers.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
A Pasay court convicted a Chinese national for running a prostitution den of Filipino women catering to foreign POGO workers.
In a 69-page decision promulgated on November 28, the Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 113 sentenced a Chinese national also known as “Boss Ayang” to two (2) life terms and a fine amounting to P4,000,000.
The court found “Boss Ayang” guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violations of RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.
The cases stemmed from a raid by Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the PNP Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) in a condominium complex in Pasay last November 25, 2023.
Fourteen (14) Filipino women including one (1) minor were rescued from a prostitution den catering exclusively to foreigners working in POGOs or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.
The court held that in the cases, all of the elements of the crime are present.
“The accused Ayang’s purpose of hiring and maintaining the victims was to exploit them for prostitution or sexual exploitation, because the victims were ordered to engage in sexual activities for payment,” the court said.
The Court found “the testimonies of the witnesses for the prosecution to be candid, straightforward, and credible.”
The victims positively identified “Boss Ayang” as the mastermind of the prostitution operation.
One testified to have serviced “thirty to fifty (30-50) clients” in just one month of working for Ayang.
She added that “Ayang distributed clients to them through their group chat” and “she went to different hotels or condominiums to meet clients.”
Payments were made either in person through Philipine Peso, RMB or Chinese Yuan or through cashless transactions directly to Boss Ayang.
The victims “would remit half of their earnings to accused Ayang” and payment was made through mobile transfers “Ayang would give the portion of the victims in cash.”
The court said the “accused took advantage of their vulnerability of being impoverished, innocent, and having hailed from outside the metro which contributed to the disadvantaged conditions of the victims”.
The court, however, acquitted the two (2) other accused in the case. The court found insufficient evidence to hold the Filipina accused as a principal in the trafficking of the victims.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you notice any secretive prostitution joints happening somewhere within your local community?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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