Masbate officers to file case against Swede

CEBU, Philippines - Social workers from Masbate province are also interested in filing trafficking charges against the Swedish national who was arrested in Cebu for bringing along with him a nine-year-old girl.

The social workers met with the technical working group of the Provincial Women’s Commission chaired by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale though they refused to be interviewed by the media.

Magpale said they were just exchanging information about the activities of 67-year-old suspect Conny Logstreom while in Masbate.

Logstreom was charged for two counts of child abuse after posting the recommended P200,000 bail for exploiting children in prostitution and other sexual abuse, and another P120,000 for keeping minors in his company in a hotel.

Accordingly, the Masbate social workers wanted to file trafficking charges against the suspect but Magpale said they explained why for now, child abuse charges are being filed.

Magpale said they still have to gather more evidence while the child abuse charges are already now in court.

Meanwhile, Magpale yesterday also disclosed that there was a request from someone who claimed to be the girl friend of the suspect to turn over to her the custody of the child as she is the aunt.

Magpale said they cannot turn over the child unless there is court order.

“Let the court order us og asa i-turn over ang bata. The child is safe, mangita mi paagi nga mapadayun iya pag-eskwela,” Magpale said.

Magpale explained that they cannot easily turn over the child learning the lesson of Bella Ruby Santos and her British national boyfriend who are both suspects in the kidnap-slay of a pupil in Minglanilla.

Magpale assured that PWC is taking custody of the child who is undergoing psycho-social intervention.

Prosecutor Noel Cellona elevated the case to the court after the accused waived his right to answer the allegations.

In the joint-affidavit executed by the Cebu port police, they stated that on February 16, 2012 they received a text message from P/Supt. Glenn Sarador directing them to intercept a “possible suspect of trafficking which was only described as a foreigner with a minor.”

However, police admitted their failure to intercept the foreigner with a minor when they arrived at the Port of Cebu. The police said they only apprehended the foreigner on February 20, 2012 when he was about to board a ship for Masbate.

When Port Police Inspector Romulo Alcazar Jr. asked the nine-year-old girl what was her relationship with the foreigner, the minor “hesitantly” answered that the Swedish national was her uncle.

The police said the foreigner did not show any documents to prove his relationship with the minor prompting them to arrest him.

The child is reportedly a resident of Barangay Aurora, Uson, Masbate. —(FREEMAN)