TWO U.S. TRAVEL AGENCY OWNERS IN ILLEGAL TRADE

Published in Today
(February 26, 2000)   
TWO Americans who are allegedly behind the operation of so-called sex tours in the country were banned from entering the country, the Bureau of Immigration said yesterday.

Immigration commissioner Rufus Rodriguez said the two Americans — Louis Schonberger and Norman Barabash — were blacklisted based on the request of Sen. Robert Jaworski and several nongovernment organizations (NGO’s) which reported the activities of the two.

The two are said to be the owners of the Big Apple Oriental Tours agency based in New York, tagged as one of the sex tour operators allegedly employing Filipino women as prostitutes for foreigner’s visiting the country.

In a letter to Rodriguez, Jaworski urged the bureau to stop the activities of foreign sex tour operators and end the continuing degradation of Filipino women.

The bureau has also been receiving numerous complaints from NGOS, indicating that the Philippines had become one of the most preferred destinations of sex tours in Asia.

Bureau records show that Barabash had already been blacklisted about two years ago, but. reports said he still managed to enter the country, to arrange a number of sex tour packages in connivance with local counterparts.

Information gathered showed that Big Apple uses the Internet to advertise its sex tour packages, using nude photos of Filipino female minors to promote its business.

Rodriguez said it was also possible that other foreigners associated with the two are involved but their identities have not been exposed.

“I have already ordered the intelligence division of the bureau to monitor and investigate the activities of foreigners responsible for the proliferation or sex tours in the country,” Rodriguez said.

He added that the agents were specifically instructed to go to Angeles and Olongapo cities where the sex tour business are reportedly making money hand over fist.

At the same time, Rodriguez warned all other aliens in the country that they will be immediately deported if they are found to be engaged in sex tours and other illegal activities.

By GUILLERMO DE LOS SANTOS
Reporter