A Korean man and his two Filipino cohorts were arrested while eight women, including some minors, were rescued by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents from an establishment engaged in the illegal sex trade in Paranaque City.
NBI Director Dante Gierran identified the suspects as Korean Son Young Hai, his partner Ma. Edna De Guzman, and Mark Jim Basigsig Costan.
Gierran said the three were arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by the NBI International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID) last Sunday at the Healing Hands massage parlor in Paranaque City.
During the operation, Gierran said the agents also rescued from the establishment eight female workers, four of them minors.
Following the operation, the three suspects were presented for inquest before the Paranaque City Prosecutor’s Office for violating Republic Act (RA) 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; and RA 7610, the Anti-Child Abuse Law.
Gierran said the operation was conducted after the NBI-IAID received information that Healing Hands is engaged in the illegal sex trade and has disguised as a massage parlor.
The NBI-IAID conducted the operation following a series of surveillance on the establishment.
The NBI-IAID used an agent to act as a poseur-customer during the operation. (Jeffrey Damicog)
