A Chinese man was arrested after he offered P1.9 million to a police officer in exchange for the release of POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operations) workers who were apprehended during a raid on a prostitution den in Makati City on Monday night.
The suspect, identified as Zhang Xiuqiang was held for trying to bribe Major Gideon Ines Jr., Makati Police investigation unit chief.
“He went to my office bringing stash of money, amounting to P1.9 million. He said that he would give us the money if we would free the POGO workers,” Ines said.
“I immediately called other cops to arrest him for trying to bribe me,” he added.
Prior to his arrest, Makati City police rescued 35 women when they swooped down on 10-story Maxx Hotel in Barangay Poblacion allegedly being rented and run by a Chinese national as a prostitution den.
“We found out that the hotel is being run and rented by a Chinese national. He pays the Filipino owner P1.2 million per month,” he said.
However, Ines said they were unable to apprehend him because he was not present during the raid conducted around 11 p.m., Monday.
Most of the customers of the alleged prostitution den, he said, were foreigners, specifically POGO workers.
“We have arrested 20 male customers of the prostitution den. Most of them were POGO worker, they are Chinese nationals,” Ines said.
“We also arrested the pimp who usually stays at the entrance of the hotel to offer women to their walk-in clients. They send pictures of women through WhatsUp application. Then, they select there who they want,” the investigation unit head said.
According to Ines, all the 35 sex workers rescued are foreigners.
The women are reportedly being paid around P20, 000 by their foreign customers.
“The women are being paid about P20, 000 per transaction. They check in at the Maxx Hotel after the pimpe had made a deal with a foreign customer,” he said. “The hotel charges P3, 500 per stay.”
Ines said they found sex toys, condoms, lubes, lingerie, and imported viagras at the said hotel.
Also apprehended during the operation were the 26 personnel of the hotel, including bellboys.
Cops also seized P1 million from cashier of the hotel.
Ines said that they used P45,000 marked money to transact with the pimp at the entrance of the hotel. (Jel Santos)
