The suspect, whose true identity has yet to be known, was apprehended following the operation launched by NBI at a hotel inside Crocodile Park, Maa, this city. Four young women who were with the suspect during the arrest were also rescued.
NBI 11 agent Vicente Essex Minguez in a press conference said they received information from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) about the foreigner accompanying four teenagers at the hotel.
“During this operation, we received information from IACAT to apprehend a foreigner whom the notice was involving four alleged minors. We want to make sure whether the young women who were with him are minors. As per advise to RD we have to take action immediately because the foreigner is about to check out from the hotel,” Minguez said.
The NBI agents immediately conducted a surveillance operation with the cooperation of the hotel management. The team found the suspect and the young ladies in separate rooms.
Based on the testimonies of the hotel management, the group, according to Minguez, had been in the hotel for seven days after they checked in last June 20. He said they were scheduled to check out on the day of the arrest.
Minguez said there was no resistance on the part of the foreign national, in fact, he said the suspect was cooperative when the operatives informed him about his arrest.
Minguez refused to give further details about the case pending the filing of formal charges against the suspect.
This foreign national is currently detained at the custodial facility of NBI 11, while the four girls ages 17 and 19 are in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11.
Gladys Credo, DSWD social welfare officer said the young women who are all residing at Maragusan, Davao de Oro will undergo psycho social intervention and protective custody.
The 19-year old girl is the suspect’s alleged girlfriend.
The arrested American national will be charged of violating anti-child trafficking act and Child Abuse Law (RA 7610).
A Filipino lawyer representing the suspect declined to comment on the case involving his client.
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