NBI PUSHES LA UNION TOWN LGU TO SHUT DOWN RAIDED BROTHEL

October 10, 2022 Headlines

Agoo, La Union – The National Bureau of Investigation in the Ilocos Region is pushing the municipal government of Agoo, La Union to completely shut down a videoke bar, it found two weeks ago, was used
as a brothel. Lawyer Hector Eduard Geologo, Regional Director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Region 1 said they have recommended to Agoo mayor Frank Sibuma to permanently close the bar, which NBI agents found to have been a venue for prostitution.

Guest Relations Officers (GROs) at the “Juan Shot videoke bar” in barangay San Francisco, Agoo, offered sex for sale via collecting P2,000 “bar fines” of P2,000.00 from availing customers of commercial sex at
their VIP rooms, the NBI said. Government agents who earlier on received complaints from residents about the illegal operation of the videoke bar and after confirmation launched an entrapment operation in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

At least 11 women and a minor, who acted as a cashier, were rescued during the raid, Atty Geologo said. It turned out that the minor is the son of the owner who claimed she let him do the job as she attended
to a medical emergency, the NBI official added. The owner of the videoke bar and her helper were charges
with criminal charges for violation of Section 4 and Section 5 of Republic Act 9208 or the anti-trafficking in
persons act of 2003.

Mayor Sibuma had not responded when asked if he has shut down the videoke bar cum brothel operating in his town. The NBI Region 1 warned it is on the move versus bars being used in human trafficking in the
guise of being entertainment hubs.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN