Four young women, including teenagers, were rescued by authorities from an alleged prostitution den fronting as a videoke bar in Calapan City.

The victims, aged 17 to 20 and from Antipolo City and Teresa town in Rizal, were allegedly forced to work as sex workers at the Blue Lagoon, authorities said.

Investigation showed that the four were separately recruited in November to work as waitresses in Infanta, Quezon.

While working in Dinahican area, a certain Beloy enticed them to transfer to Paranaque on the promise of a higher income. But they were brought instead to Calapan City and  forced to work as sex workers.

The four tried to escape but were caught in Calapan pier and brought back to the videoke bar.

Through text messaging, two of the girls were able to inform their families about their ordeal.

Their parents immediately asked the help of Rizal Governor Jun Ynares, who coordinated with authorities for the rescue operation.

After the successful rescue, the  Rizal social welfare office assisted the mothers of the victims and brought them to the Oriental Mindoro capital where they met their daughters at the “Bahay Kanlungan,” a refuge set up by the provincial government for distressed women and children.

Ynares directed the concerned Rizal provincial offices to look after the welfare of the rescued girls who are now under the care of  a welfare institution.

The owners of the Blue Lagoon videoke bar, meanwhile, are in the custody of the Calapan police as charges are being readied against them.