Two female “pimps” face charges in court

The Cebu City Prosecutor's Office has found probable cause against two alleged female pimps earlier caught offering women for sexual services to male customers.

The prosecutor's office has indicted Emelia Cañada and Ana Cabiles for violations of Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) and recommended the filing of qualified trafficking in court. If found guilty, Cañada and Cabiles may be sentenced to life imprisonment.

The two were arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation-7 on October 11. The operation came after three women complained before the NBI -7 office against the operators of the massage parlor, alleging that they were hired by the operator to do sexual and lascivious acts.

The victims alleged that they were not given regular salary and only relied on their income from sexual services offered as extra service to male customers.

The NBI conducted a surveillance operation to verify the information and found out that the massage parlor was only used as front for prostitution, prompting an entrapment operation.

At around 6 p.m. on October 11, operatives of the NBI swooped down on Beah's Massage and Spa along F. Ramos Street. Two NBI undercover agents acted as decoys and transacted with Cañada, who was then giving orders to the female therapists to prepare for the "show-up."

While performing the massage on the decoy, one of the female therapists allegedly asked the undercover agent if he wanted an extra service, saying that they have no other income if they don't have any extra service.

The therapist allegedly received the money and went to the counter to hand the money to Cabiles. It was then that the decoy signaled the NBI team to proceed with the raid.

NBI agents arrested Cabiles and Cañada. They also rescued 10 female therapists.