76 sex workers rounded up; 16 positive for STDs

By Jun Feliciano
August 23, 2004

The City Health Office (CHO), backed up by a coordinated team from the police, DSWD and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), launched surprise raids late last Thursday night in various nightspots along Governor Camins Avenue, and the known fly-by-night hangouts in Zamboanga City.

City Health Officer Rodel Agbulos told Sun.Star in an interview that the raiding team, which he headed, rounded up 76 sex workers, 16 of who were found to be suffering from STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases).

"The number of STDs discovered in our latest raid was considered as already alarming, considering the number of customers they are going to contaminate," Agbulos assessed.

He said most of the raided sex workers are from other places but ply their trade in the city.

"Many of them are still minors whose ages range from 17 to early 20s," according to Agbulos.

Agbulos vowed to continue their relentless campaign against fly-by-night girls in the wake of alarming cases of STDs in the city lately.

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