Romeo Braceros Jr.

Two spa establishments in Mandaue City, Cebu, one of which is thought to be owned by a former police officer, were allegedly caught during simultaneous entrapment and rescue operations carried out by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 last Friday night. T

The businesses were accused of providing "extra service."

The operations were coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

One of the individuals in command of the operations, NBI Special Agent Agapito Gierran, claimed that the searches started due to complaints against the two spas in Barangays Subangdaku and Tipolo for allegedly providing sexual favors in addition to their spa services.

Gierran claimed that following complaints, they kept an eye on the two businesses for a week.

Twenty-two people were taken into custody during the raid, including a receptionist from each spa, 13 massage therapists from the spa in Subangdaku, and six more from Tipolo.

Additionally, the owner of the Tipolo spa, who is thought to be a former police officer, was detained.

All of the ladies massage therapists who were saved were from Mindanao, mostly.

The DSWD already had the rescued masseuses in its care, and they would get post-care counseling.

Gierran stated that it has not yet been determined which massage therapists are minors.

He related that a spa in Subangdaku allegedly charged P1,500 for a "Bengali massage," during which the masseuses would serve their clients while they were entirely naked to induce sex.

For P3,500, the spa also provides an "added service" where the masseuses allegedly engage in further sexual acts with the guests.

In March of this year, the NBI also raided two massage parlors on Mandaue City's Hernan Cortes Street, which resulted in the rescue of 20 masseuses.

If proven guilty, the proprietors can be charged with a human trafficking offense, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of P2 million.