- NBI raids Davao spa, arrests ‘Madam Ram’ and rescues minor sex worker
THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation-Southern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-Semro) raided a massage spa that allegedly served as a front for a prostitution den involving minors on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
The operation, executed at the said (name withheld) Massage Spa at 7:30 p.m., led to the arrest of the suspected operator, known as Madam Ram, and the rescue of at least one underage victim.
The NBI XI acted under the directive of NBI national director Judge Jaime Santiago (Ret.) and the operational leadership of regional director Atty. Arcelito C. Albao.
The operation was initiated on the complaints of alias Miraflor and Alais Elena, who filed a report after arriving from Davao Occidental.
According to Albao, “The mother and grandmother reported that their daughter and granddaughter had traveled to Davao City to work at the spa but were allegedly being forced into sexual exploitation.”
An undercover agent posed as a customer and arranged an illicit “spa with extra service.” The agent successfully negotiated with Madam Ram. Operatives moved in for the arrest when the service was confirmed at the price of ₱3,500.
Victim rescue and ongoing search
Albao told TIMES on Wednesday that the rescue involved a 15-year-old minor who was serving as a masseuse for the “extra service.”
While Albao stated two minors were rescued, He clarified that only the 15-year-old was secured.
The NBI is actively looking for two other girls, aged 12 and 16, who were nowhere to be found.
“We suspect that they might be in another branch or involved in an escort service,” Albao said.
The rescued minor was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for debriefing, medical examination, psychosocial intervention, and temporary protective custody.
Madam Ram was immediately taken into custody at the NBI-Semro headquarters, where she underwent standard booking procedures, as she faces qualified child trafficking and child abuse cases.
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Albao confirmed that the suspect claimed the minors had parental consent, a defense the NBI will investigate as the search for the other two missing girls continues.
The agency vowed to pursue traffickers “from shadow to light until every child is safe.”
