90 sex workers rescued from P’panga girlie bar

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Some 90 female workers, including minors, were rescued by police operatives in a rescue operations Sunday in a girlie bar operated by a German national believed to be engaged in human trafficking, police reported Monday. 

Operatives of Regional Women and Children Protection Desk and the Police Regional Public Safety Battalion raided Club Camelot in Fields Avenue, Barangay Balibago in Angeles City. 

Police earlier received complaints from the International Justice Mission and the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force that minors were allegedly employed by the club as sex workers.

Region 3 Police Director, Chief Supt. Edgardo T. Ladao said the operations was conducted with the strength of search warrant issued by Judge Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega of the City of Malolos Regional Trial Court.

Arrested during the encounter was the club’s manager, identified as Bernard Gerbes, a 48 year-old German national who temporarily resides at Clover St., 75-3, Timog Park Subdivision, Angeles City.

Five other members of the staff of the club were also arrested. They were identified as Editha Secretario, 52, club lady keeper of San Pablo, St. Mt. View, Balibago, Angeles City, waitresses Janell Ocampo, Nitchel Trimidal, Dianna Mallari, and choreographer Ramil Marino.

Ladao said appropriate criminal charges, including violations off Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-child Abuse Law, were already filed in court against Gerber and his companions.

Angeles has passed an ordinance banning the employment of female workers below 18 years old in the entertainment firms at the ‘red light district’ of Angeles City.

The victims are now in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to undergo counseling.