BRIBERY TRY. Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar (right), chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), presents bribery suspects Zhang Xiuquang and Fan Jianping on Tuesday (Oct. 8, 2019). The two suspects were arrested for attempting to bribe Makati police officers in exchange for the release of (POGO) workers earlier arrested in a prostitution den in Makati City. (Photo courtesy: NCRPO PIO)
MANILA -- Two Chinese nationals were arrested for trying to bribe police officers in exchange for the release of Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers, who were earlier arrested in a prostitution den in Makati City, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO said on Wednesday.
Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO chief, identified the suspects as Zhang Xiuquang and Fan Jianping, who approached and negotiated with Maj. Gideon Ines Jr., head of Station Investigation and Detective Management (SIDM) of the Makati City Police, by offering PHP1.7 million to persuade them against filing charges.
In a report, the two suspects pulled out a huge amount of bribe money in Ines' office, prompting police officers to arrest them.
“This serves as an opportunity to protect the good name of the organization by eliminating suspicions and speculations and these are the kind of policemen that we need to show our people that they can be trusted and that not all policemen are corrupt,” Eleazar said.
Eleazar presented to the media on Tuesday afternoon the two bribery suspects following the entrapment operation conducted in a prostitution den inside MAXX Hotel located along Makati Avenue in Barangay Poblacion on Monday night.
Eleazar recognized the indispensable aid of Chinese law enforcers against the proliferation of human trafficking cases involving their citizens.
"We need the cooperation of our Chinese counterpart. Kasi sila ang nakakaalam ng mga sindikato na yan (They are the ones who know these syndicates better) and their operations," said Eleazar.
The innovations introduced by technology in crime perpetration remain a continuing challenge for NCRPO but Eleazar guaranteed to ceaselessly continue the fight against all forms of criminality and illegal drugs.
During the entrapment operation, Makati police operatives were able to rescue 36 Chinese-looking females, 18 Chinese-looking males, and 10 Filipino female employees.
The hotel was reportedly being rented and run by a Chinese man who pays the Filipino owner PHP1.2 million per month.
Makati chief of police Col. Rogelio Simon said that the services of the Chinese women are being offered online for PHP20,000 to PHP30,000 and can be booked through a Chinese social media application.
The operation was launched at around 11 p.m. Monday after an informant tipped the authorities of illegal sexual activities in the hotel.
Meanwhile, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay on Tuesday ordered the city’s Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) to serve a closure order on Maxx Hotel.
“The continuing crackdown has been ordered by Mayor Abby to restore order and discipline in Makati and protect the interest of legitimate businesses,” the city government said in a statement.
This is the fourth time that authorities raided a sex den in Metro Manila in a span of two months.
On September 30, operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) rescued some 91 Chinese women and four Filipino women inside a KTV bar also in Makati City.
In Parañaque City last September 19, operatives of NCRPO rescued 51 female Chinese and seven Filipina witnesses and arrested 13 Chinese nationals allegedly operating a prostitution den.
Last September 4, NCRPO operatives rescued six Vietnamese women and arrested two Chinese women suspected to be victims of human trafficking. (PNA)
