Task force raids B1 disco; minor workings as GRO discovered

CLOSED. The Laoag City government closed Taurus Disco at the city’s Discolandia. The closure came after a raid by the NBI and the Inter Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT) for hiring a minor as a GRO. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

THE INTER-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT) task force and the National Bureau of Investigation raided a disco house at Brgy. 1, Laoag City following a report that a minor was working there as a guest relations officer (GRO).

The IACAT task force, detailed under the Office of the Vice President, identified the disco as Tauros Disco. With the discovery of the minor, the task force arrested the disco operator. The minor was brought to the IACAT office in Manila.

The IACAT has placed the said disco under the custody of the NBI as a charge has been filed at the city prosecutor’s office.

Immediately after the raid, Laoag mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas issued a closure order on the said disco. She also said that the city government is now monitoring all disco houses in Laoag City.

Later in a meeting presided by city administrator Cipriano Hilarion “Perry” Martinez III and attended by all disco houses’ managers. The rules and regulations covering disco houses at the city’s “Discolandia” were reiterated. Particularly stressed was the hiring of minors, which is strictly prohibited.

Mr. Martinez was joined by city legal officer Atty. Marlon Wayne D. Manuel in their discussion of the anti-trafficking and child abuse laws.

In this discussion, the city officials said one of the requirements for any applicant to work as a GRO should be the submission of an authenticated birth certificate. In this manner, they would immediately learn if the applicant is still a minor.

The meeting also focused on the disco houses as centers of business and not residential areas for GROs.

“If they are working here and [are] also living in the same place, they can always accuse you of ‘kinukulong mo sila’ [you are imprisoning them]”, Mr. Martinez said to the disco owners.

To avoid this, the city administrator suggested that disco houses should rent residences to house their GROs that are away from disco houses.

The disco owners, in their defense, said the GROs are free to go anywhere. However, they fear that disco clients may meet them where they would be staying and this would affect their businesses.

Mr. Martinez replied that this was only his suggestion and he is leaving it up to the owners and managers to avoid being charged with the anti-human trafficking law.

Disco owners’ group president Froilander Agdeppa, meanwhile, said he has kept reminding his fellow managers not to hire minors.

Mr. Agdeppa welcomed Mr. Martinez’s suggestion as this is a way for them not to be charged with illegal detention of GROs.

However, Mr. Agdeppa said the problem with this is if GROs meet with clients in their rented houses or go out with them, the disco owners and managers would still be held responsible for the girls. He added that they would sit down and find a solution to this problem.

Mr. Agdeppa also stressed that they would continue to have GROs sign an affidavit that they were not forced to work as GRO, are not minors and willing to follow the rules and regulations set by the disco owners’ association.