Monro 8 case: Probe pushed on sex trafficking in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY -- Allegations on the growing incidence of sexually trafficked women in this resort city has caught the attention of lady councilors here compelling them to call for the conduct of a legislative inquiry on the matter.

A proposed resolution introduced by councilor Perlita L. Chan-Rondez, and co-authored by councilors Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Philian Louise Weygan-Allan, and Karminn Dinney Yangot, several concerned personalities in the city invited stakeholders to attend the next regular session of the city council and shed light on the alleged growing incidence of sexually trafficked women in the City.

Under the said proposed resolution, those invited include Police Senior Insp. DivinaMencio, head of the Children and Women’s Desk of the Baguio City Police Office, Betty Fangasan of the Office of the City Social Welfare, CristioLagyop of the Business Permits and Licensing Office and Mila Singson of the Gabriela Women’s Partylist and other Women Non-government organizations.

The said legislative inquiry is an offshoot of a recent alleged sexual trafficking incident wherein eight young women from Davao were rescued from a disco bar in the City after allegedly being forced to work as sex workers inside the said establishment.

As narrated in the proposed resolution, the nongovernment organization Innabuyog-Gabriela through Mila Singson received a report from a Lani Flores of LawigBubay-Gabriela Davao, stating that the eight young women asked to be rescued from a bar along Bokawkan Road called Monro Disco Bar.

The said young women who were later rescued through the assistance provided by Singson claimed to have been forced to work as sex workers allegedly by a Korean national known as Henry Soo and a recruiter by the name of Nora Chang.

In calling for the legislative inquiry, the lady legislators cited that the case of the “Monro 8” might not be an isolated incident and there is a need to invite all the personalities named in the proposed resolution to shed light on the true gravity of the incidence of trafficked women and children in Baguio and what legislation can be passed to strengthen the city’s drive to eradicate the trafficking of women and children in the City.

Also having learned that the Monro Disco Bar is still operating even without any valid business permit, the lady legislators requested the appearance of Lagyop during the inquiry and shed light on reports that there are disco bars, nightclubs, billiard halls, and other similar establishments serving, selling and dispensing liquor, without the appropriate business permits.

The lady legislators further noted that these business establishments are purportedly being used as fronts for sex dens where women are sexually trafficked in Baguio. It was further noted in the said proposed resolution that the continued operations of these establishments tend to promote sex trafficking and sex tourism in Baguio and that conversely, their immediate closure will likewise immediately arrest its incidence.