Red lights dimmed in Ermita clean-up

ONE of Asia's livelier red-light districts was dark and deserted last night as Manila Mayor Mr Alfredo Lim appeared to gain the upper hand in his battle against the bar owners of Ermita.

''Almost all the premises have been closed,'' said a jubilant Mr Rafaelipo Gerayblas, the mayor's executive secretary and chief of the task force charged with cleaning up the district.

''Our next step is to get legitimate businessmen to set up legitimate businesses in the area. We will change the image of Ermita,'' Mr Gerayblas said.

Although rumours abound throughout Ermita about a possible opening up of some bars this week, the chances of a return to business-as-usual seem remote as customers drift to entertainment districts in other suburbs.

The closures have stopped business at even the biggest and most popular bars. This week, Manila City Council is expected to pass an ordinance permanently banning nightclubs from the area.

Laid-off bar-girls wandering the streets said many girls had returned to their home in the provinces or had moved to other parts of Manila to seek work in one of the other three cities that make up Metro Manila.

During at least two raids earlier this month, police and city officials spray-painted the word Closed on all the establishments lining the main Ermita strip. Many have had wooden bars nailed to their doors.