"HIV positive" Australian faces trafficking raps

CEBU, Philippines - An Australian national, reportedly HIV positive, is facing charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office for transporting three minor boys to one of the hotels in Cebu City allegedly for sexual exploitation.

Senior Inspector Maria Theresa Macatangay of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) Regional Intelligence Division (RID) filed four complaints against the 48-year-old Australian national, from Melbourne Australia working and said to be working for the Professional Investment Services PTY LTD.

He is facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9208 otherwise known as Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and three counts for the violation of Section 5 paragraph (b) of Republic Act 7610 otherwise known as Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Section 5 of paragraph (b) RA 7610 refers to those who commit the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse.

According to Macatangay, they were able to arrest the respondent inside the hotel with three minor boys after an informant reported to them.

The minors were rescued and turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Macatangay said that based on the information they gathered, it’s not just the three minor boys who became victims of the respondent but many other minors.

The surveillance came after the Australian Embassy sent an endorsement letter to them regarding the respondent’s alleged activities.

Since then, Macatangay said they conducted surveillance which led to the respondent’s arrest in the evening of December 21, 2011.

“Unusual kaayo ba na usually we hear nga babaye ang victim sa sexual abuse but this time, mga lalaki. (Its unusual because the victims are usually girls but this time, the victims are boys),” she said.

Macatangay said they have attached the affidavits of the victims to support the complaints filed.

However, such allegations were vehemently denied by the Australian national through his lawyer Louie Arma who told the media that his client claims innocence.

“So far based on the statement of my client, he did nothing and he merely went inside his room in the hotel,” he said.

Arma asked for 15 days to file his client’s counter-affidavit.

He explained that his client was a tourist. Arma said he will get the things and clothes of his client from the hotel, which the latter left after the arrest.

Meanwhile, Macatangay said they had called the attention of the Department of Health (DOH) with regards to the procedure of determining human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after they received reports from the embassy that the respondent was HIV positive.

Macatangay said they were now verifying the matter as the victims have girlfriends.

However, she added that as of yesterday, they were prioritizing the filing of case.  (FREEMAN)