SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija -- A total of 50 women of different ages were rescued by the Camp Crame-based Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC), Special Action Force (SAF), and the town police from suspected prostitution fronts in Barangay Mambangnan here before midnight Thursday.
Town police chief, Chief Insp. Ranny Casilla, said Friday SAF operatives swooped into 15 restobars believed to be prostitution fronts at about 11 p.m.
The raids were carried out after undercover agents confirmed the illicit activities being carried out in the establishments, as they verified a tip from a non-governmental organization, it was learned.
Five suspected pimps were arrested during the raids.
The rescued women, mostly from other parts of the country, were brought to the WCPC in Camp Crame for appropriate action, Casilla said.
The suspects are facing human trafficking charges under Republic Act (RA) No. 9208 as amended by RA 10364 also known as The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. (PNA)
