Quezon City government will put in litmus test the new battle cry of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) leadership — “Subukan Nyo Po Kami” — when raiding teams are unleased after the suspected pimps in the city, particularly in the Quezon Avenue night fun area.
Mayor Herbert M. Bautista has asked QCPD Director P/CSupt. George T. Regis to intensify the campaign against illegal flesh trade in the city which has been victimizing mostly minors and women.
Bautista noted that illegal flesh trade could taint QC’s good image as one of the tourist destinations in the country today for the city’s having the best health and wellness facilities and eco-friendly parks and gardens.
The mayor directed Regis to conduct massive police operations against the sex trade promoters and to focus on getting the pimps.
At the same time, he also ordered that the police targets should include the videoke bars and spas which operate illegally or those which did not pass the floor area requirement of at least 100 square meters.
The police operation, the mayor, said should be well-coordinated with the office of Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, which has an alternative livelihood program for the arrested prostitutes.
The QC government treats women who are arrested for prostitution as the victims rather than the suspected law violators under an existing QC ordinance, thus giving these victims the opportunity to become good citizens by providing them with jobs or livelihood training.
For his part, Regis vowed to immediately form an all-policewoman group who will conduct police operations along Quezon Avenue and other sex trade areas in the city to save minors and women from prostitution.
However, the QCPD director urged Vice Mayor Belmonte, who chairs the QC Council, to file an ordinance that will increase the present fine for vagrancy which is usually the case being filed against prostitutes and pimps.
Regis said that the P300 fine for vagrancy is very affordable for prostitutes and pimps, thus they continue to prosper in their illegal trade.
“What is P300 for them when they could earn P1,000 for a night for the illegal trade, they still have P700 left when they are arrested and fined,” Regis said. -30- Maureen Quinones, PAISO
