LUCENA CITY — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents on Thursday rescued five female minors working in a prostitution den at Bgy. Tagbakin, Atimonan, Quezon.

Dominador Villanueva, who heads NBI-Quezon, said they also arrested Irene Ponce, the alleged recruiter of the minors; Learnel Pamisaran, the floor manager of Sweet and Spicy Bar, and Melissa Bizon, the bar cashier.

Villanueva said prior to the operation, NBI Special Investigator Raul Tepace had conducted a surveillance in the area following reports that there are female minors working as guest relations officer in the bar and that the customers can have carnal knowledge with them provided that bar fines in the amount of P2,000 are paid to Ponce or to Pamisaran and Bizon.

After Tepace confirmed that the report was true, Villanueva said they immediately carried out the operation in coordination with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer of Atimonan.

He said the suspects who were around during the raid were all arrested for violation of Republic Act 9208 as amended by Republic Act 10364.

“They were taken to the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for inquest proceeding after being investigated at the NBI office,” said Villanueva.

The five minors were brought to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Gemi Formaran