If you read the current news in the Philippines, you know about a 19 year old US Marine being a suspect in the murder of a 26 year old transgender in Olongapo City. This incident has become highly politically charged in the Philippines, fueled by activists, leftists, militants and those who are anti-American.
Olongapo City was known as Sin City for many years but when Richard Gordon was elected Mayor in 1980, Olongapo became a highly urbanized city within 3 years. Before Richard Gordoen was replaced as Mayor in 1986 by then President Cory Aquino, once she assumed office and reorganized all political official in place under Marcos, Olongapo was a Model City in the Philippines. Richard Gordon has not been Mayor of Olongapo City for over 20 years and the old Sin City is back!
Crossing The Line
Olongapo City is unofficially known as the Transgender Capital of the Philippines! Guys, beware! I have personally seen transgenders in Bacolod City who are very beautiful and you would not know they are men when you see them. I can only imagine all the beauties in Olongapo City. Men and women have the right to dress as they wish, look as they wish and engage in sexual activity according to their orientation, as long as consensual from both parties. That is where the line is being crossed! Any transgender pretending to be a women to gain sex, including paid sex, is violating the rights of others. In my opinion, it is a form of rape! They should be upfront and honest, stating that they are indeed transgender. Otherwise, you can throw out the consensual part unless the other partner knows the other is transgender and consents to this type of activity. I will agree that some guys want to meet and have a relationship with a transgender exclusively but many others are looking for a real woman.
Peril Ahead!
Since the murder of the 26 year old transgender occurred in early October, the transgender life and the life of sex workers in Olongapo City and in other places around the Philippines has come to light in much more focus. In a recent interview, one transgender, whose identity was disguised, related how many prostitutes, including transgenders, work as a team. One takes their pickup to a motel and showers with him while the other member of the team steals everything left in the bedroom. When the client comes out of the shower and discovers what has happened, he is usually no longer “in the mood!”
This scam is not only the MO of transgenders but also the MO of many other sex workers.
Some guys want to take their pickup to a nice hotel and not to a cheap motel but there is PLAN B for that as well. In most cities, a number of taxi drivers are involved in the sex worker’s trade. I can tell you now that all taxi drivers are not nice and law abiding citizens! Some work with hold up gangs. They drive their passengers to where the hold up gang is in wait to rob the passenger. Yes, they are armed and dangerous. So, the sex worker agrees to a nice hotel and acts excited. She/he hails the prearranged taxi and they are robbed along the way. Once again, the pickup is often no longer “in the mood.”
There are many other scams in the Philippines and around the world and many sex workers are pros. They often have partners in crime and the guys will lose most every time.
Even Worse!
It is bad enough being robbed of your money and credit cards while in another country but there are even worse things that can happen to you if you want to hang around sex workers!
A prearranged raid with law enforcement can go down and the shakedown is on! Pay or go to jail! Or it could be a legitimate law enforcement raid and there you are. If the sex worker has a fake ID and is underage, this is not an acceptable defense in the Philippines. You are with an underage sex worker and now you are in deep doo doo! Welcome to the Ped-Files World, as you are now a branded man for life.
Ever heard of Blackmail and Extortion? These are two weapons used by sex workers. The big thing in the Philippines nowadays is taking a video of having sex and it is often done secretly. These are criminals you see, so they are not going to warn you in advance, “Oh, I am videoing what we are going to do” are words you will never hear. Once the video goes viral, your life could very well be ruined! “Want to buy the video?” Yes, you will hear these words and maybe again and again! More than one copy.
You can also become a murder victim or a victim of extreme injury from a beating. Is it worth the risk? You decide!
My article today is not to generate comments about the US Marine or the murdered transgender. We are not their judges. My article today is not to degrade the Philippine Justice System because it is their system, not ours. When we are in the Philippines, we must play by their rules. They are calling the shots! Not us.
However, I am using this incident to let everyone know the dangers in partying with sex workers. Many sex workers have connections with syndicates and hard core criminals. If you still want to play, Welcome to Their World! A set up? Even if the US Marine is the foreigner seen in the motel room with the transgender, who was murdered, it still does not mean that he murdered him. The victim was known for carrying P20-P25,000 cash on his person at all times, according to the news. Anyone could have set the Marine up by murdering and robbing the victim, and now the Marine is being blamed. There wasn’t any money found on the murder victim, so where did the money go?
There is so much fun in the Philippines! There are many beautiful respectable women in the Philippines, who are willing to meet you and develop a real and meaningful relationship of love. There is no need to hang out with sex workers and put your life, finances and reputation in danger.
Good post Gary and very informative, look forward to seeing you again next time I hit Bacolod City…
Thank you, Peter. It was nice seeing you while you were here and I look forward seeing you again. Take care,
~ Gary ~
I have to repeat what Peter Edwards wrote because I agree 100% “Good post Gary and very informative” My only contribution is this : Beware , this not only happens in Philippines but in other countries as well. example Latin America. In 2003, I went to visit a relative of mine who was living in a country in South America. On one occasion, I went to an Internet cafe , After I used their computer and I was standing on a queue to pay. A lady who was behind me, greeted me as if she had seen me before. I told her that she must me confused because this was my first time in the country. Any way. I was sensing something was wrong but I could not pin point what it was. She was inviting me to go to a coffee shop across the road. I told her I was busy and to give me her phone number. That night I told my relative about this occurrence. He laughed and told me you were lucky. It is a new trick. The trick is very similar to the one used in Olongapo City ( I have never been to this city, and I am not planning to go there either)
Thank you very much for this article very it is an eye opener. very well written
Kind Regards
Felix
Thank you much, Felix. I am glad you enjoyed my article and found it to be informative. I appreciate your nice comments.
~ Gary ~
In reading your post you seem to be placing the blame for this tragedy on the woman (note correct pronoun, she is transgendered) for being who she is, and engaging in sex work.
Precisely because of who she is, her options for making any money are pretty limited in the Philippines, even more than most. The arrested Marine was in Olongapo City, an infamous area not only for sex work but ladyboys in particular. Even if he was a complete idiot, no reaction other than “no thanks” is acceptable by someone in this situation. If anyone is the sexual predator in this situation, it’s him.
There is a disturbing amount of evidence that places the Marine at the scene of the crime; while I hope he is innocent of the charges, the fact that he is a US soldier consorting with a sex worker places him in a well publicized line of US servicemen who have been arrested for awful sex crimes & murder against Asian locals. The fact that she is transgendered is simply irrelevant.
The entire situation makes me as an American cringe. That asshole of a Marine should have known better to get involved, and if guilty of murder I hope he receives the full punishment of the law.
Jake,
There is blame on both sides but my article did not state that. You brought it up. Many sex workers are abused and murdered around the world and it is a risky business.
I also don’t believe in trial by media. As a former law enforcement officer, I can think of half a dozen scenarios about this murder, none of which involved the US Marine but that is not my job. I am not biased but only used this high profile example about the perils of picking up strangers!
~ Gary ~
Your information on Olongapo City is outdated and misleading. It could use a major tune-up.
It has never been known as Sin City. Even in its heyday, it lagged far behind Angeles City, Metro Manila, and Cebu City in the size and vigor of it’s red light district and girly bars.
When the U.S. naval base closed in the early 1990’s, Olongapo’s reputation as a party town was immediately diminished. To this day, people who previously relished it’s more nefarious activities consider it quite diminished, even dull….preferring instead to take $2 ride outside the city to the dreary 20 to 25 girly bars in Subic City and Barrio Barreto.
In the Philippines, the term “Highly Urbanized Area” is granted by Presidential fiat based on vague criteria, including a population of 200,000. The term has diminished impact when the methodology becomes known. Olongapo’s population has always increased when three or four U.S. Navy ships hit Subic Bay. Something that seldom happens these days, however much more frequently than do censuses.
Michael,
My response concerning your comments. On October 17, 2014, there were several news outlets which ran a title story, “Philippine “Sin City” Loses Its Lustre After Transgender Murder.Easy to Google that story! Transforming Olongapo City from Sin City to a Highly Urbanized City is part of the resume highlights of Richard Gordon, the former Mayor, who ran for Senator in 2013. If you disagree, I suggest you contact him and set him straight.
~ Gary ~