NBI agents arrest fugitive Belgian pedophile in Makati

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had arrested near the Embassy of Belgium in Makati City, a 61-year-old fugitive Belgian pedophile who has a string of child abuse cases in Belgium.

NBI-Interpol Division chief Claro de Castro Jr. said Luc Van Hecke was nabbed while leaving the Belgian Embassy at the 9th floor of the Multinational Bancorporation Center at 6805 Ayala Ave., Makati City.

De Castro said the bureau received a letter from John Alleart, Belgian Police Liaison Office (BPLO), informing them that Van Hecke who had been convicted of sexual abuse and sentenced with seven years in prison, is hiding in the country. Belgian Embassy officials said the ages of the fugitive’s victims range from 10 to 15 years old.

The Belgian police described Van Hecke as an "incorrigible abuser of children." He was reportedly arrested in 1993 and was sentenced with three years in prison. He was last arrested in 2005, convicted, and sentenced with seven years in jail.

De Castro said Van Hecke, whose passport had been cancelled by the Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, preys on girls and gets his victims by posing as a hypnotist who can help cure the "mental limitations" of girls to improve their memory and excel in school.

Special Investigator III Sixto Espenesin Jr., NBI-Interpol, said Van Hecke often convince the child’s parents to allow the girl to undergo private sessions wherein he would be left alone with the girl at her house. After a few sessions, after he had earned the parents’ trust, he would ask permission for the session to be transferred to his house.

Espenesin said while the victim is in a trance, Van Hecke reportedly makes his sexual advances on the girl and later bring her home.

Foreign affairs officials of Belgium has informed foreign governments that Van Hecke is an undocumented alien after they cancelled his passport and other travel documents.

"He (fugitive) was issued with a ‘red letter notice’ meaning that his name has been included in the list with warrants of arrest that has been circulated to other member-countries," said De Castro.

He said the NBI coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and learned that the Belgian fugitive had arrived in the country on Oct. 14, 2004 with a forwarding address at no. 146 Caniogan, Paniqui, Tarlac. The fugitive reportedly married a Filipina from Tarlac.

Van Hecke and his wife later moved to Barangay San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

Espenesin, NBI Special Investigator III Mario Garcia and two BI officers were about to travel to Palawan to serve the warrant on the suspect, when the Belgian Embassy officials informed them that the fugitive was coming to Metro Manila.

It was during Van Hecke’s visit to the Belgian Embassy last week when the NBI agents arrested him. They waited at the embassy lobby at around 1:30 p.m., Van Hecke arrived at 2 p.m., and came out 20 minutes later.

The arresting team joined the suspect inside the elevator as he was going down the building. They introduced themselves as law enforcement agents and informed him that he was an undocumented alien and presented the BI mission order.

"He showed up at the embassy because, apparently, he was not aware that a warrant has been issued against him," said De Castro.