Probe police pimping for FBI agents - women group

Metro Manila, Philippines - A women party-list group has called for a probe of police supposedly pimping for agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In a statement on Tuesday, April 1, House Assistant Minority leader and Gabriela Women’s Rep. Arlene Brosas denounced what she called state-sanctioned exploitation of Filipino women.

"This is not merely a case of individual misconduct. This is a clear manifestation of the culture of impunity and systematic exploitation of women that continues to pervade our society, enabled by no less than those sworn to protect our people," Brosas said.

"Nakakagalit na ang mismong mga pulis ang nagsisilbing bugaw para sa mga dayuhang ahente. Imbes na protektahan ang kababaihan mula sa trafficking at prostitusyon, sila pa mismo ang nagbebenta ng ating kababaihan," she said.

[Translation: It is outrageous that the police served as pimps for foreign agents. Instead of protecting women from trafficking and prostitution, they themselves sold our women.]

Brosas demanded accountability for foreign agents and the police who perpetrated the “abuse and exploitation” as well as government agencies that may have allowed the activity.

She also pushed the government to publicize its findings after the probe.

Citing an investigation by the United States Justice Department watchdog, the New York Times said FBI agents deployed in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Thailand had sex with prostitutes while in the company of local police from 2009 to 2018.

Paying for sex is restricted for FBI employees. Prostitution is illegal in the three Asian nations.