A KTV bar believed to be a prostitution front in Panglao was shut down by police during a surprise inspection led by Mayor Leonila Montero on Thursday night.

Mix Garden, located in Barangay Lourdes in Panglao, is allegedly owned by a Chinese national identified as Ching Lee.

According to Montero, the bar was shut down after its management was unable to present a business permit.

“Nakita nato ang tag-iya. Hing admit siya na siyay tag-iya. Wa ta ka pangutana kung single ba o corporation,” said Montero.

Authorities including the Panglao Police Station Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk found at least 12 women who were working as entertainers but were also allegedly allowed to be “taken” out of the bar.

However, there were no customers during the operation.

“Wa tay nakit-an na customers pero atong naukaban ang usa ka room na tuay daghang babaye didto so nataw pod sa atong mga katahap na lain g’yud ni’g lihok,” said Montero.

Montero said that a complainant, a former employee of the establishment, went to the LGU and reported the alleged illegal operations of the KTV bar.

The employee who had worked for Mix Garden for two weeks said that customers were allowed to take them out of the bar.

“Duna tay mga report, duna tay mga complaints na naay alleged prostitution nga lugar kay itake-out maning mga babaye ani, pareha’g McDonald’s,” said Montero.

Mix Garden also allegedly employed a minor but authorities did not find her at the establishment during the inspection.

The women entertainers, some of whom are from Cebu, were told to return to their homes.

Meanwhile, Lee was not arrested as authorities were still preparing a complaint against him.

Montero said that Lee’s bar has been operating since January without a business permit.

“Akong gipangutana ngano wa mo kuha og business permit. Akong giingon ‘you cannot engage in business without a permit.’ Ngano wa man sila mo process ‘nya karon we found out na mao niy katahap sa ilang business,” she said. (A. Doydora)