MANILA, Philippines - Two women were rescued and 2 suspected pimps were arrested in a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operation against an alleged prostitution syndicate[12] that uses Facebook.
NBI agents placed a hotel in Manila under surveillance Thursday afternoon as part of an entrapment operation.
Their targets were women who allegedly use Facebook for prostitution.
Two women appeared at the hotel around 5 p.m. and talked to NBI assets who posed as customers.
The women were allegedly willing to go "all the way" for P3,000 each.
NBI agents arrested the suspected pimps after they received the money. They also entered the hotel room where the women and their poseur customers went.
One of the women is a minor.
They pointed at a pimp, "Wizzy," as the one who posted their photos and phone numbers in a Facebook group called "Under One Roof."
One of the women said she had no idea that the social media site was being used to sell their bodies to customers.
Another said she was only invited to join the Facebook group and does not know the administrator of the page.
She added that some women are in the sex trade because of pressing needs for money.
TV Patrol[13] earlier aired a special report on the alleged flesh trade ring that uses Facebook[12] to get customers.
The NBI said the 2 suspected pimps will be charged with violating Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Authorities consider the women as victims.
One of them, a 17-year-old, has been brought to the Department of Social Welfare and development.
The NBI has also sought the help of Facebook to help trace and identify the people behind the prostitution group. - report from Pinky Webb, ABS-CBN News
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