DOLE worker nabbed for sex with minor

MANILA, Philippines - A Department of Labor and Employment employee was arrested Wednesday night as he was allegedly about to have sex with a boy at a hotel in Cubao, Quezon City, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said yesterday.

Employment officer Victor Suma, alias Varic Lee, 42, did not resist arrest when police officers raided his room at the Walnut Hotel, where he brought the 17-year-old.

CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. ordered Suma be charged with violating the anti-child abuse law.

Room boys Anthony Benitez, 25, and Mike Ron Santos, 21; acting supervisor and cook Michael Torcuator, 27; and cashier Jennifer Fajardo were arrested during the raid and charged for promoting and facilitating activities that constitute child prostitution.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, chief of the CIDG’s anti-transnational and cybercrime division, said the raid stemmed from complaints of Paolo Gumaro and six others, including three minors, through the assistance of Fr. Matthieu Dauchez, executive director of Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation.

The complaint was coursed through the hotline of CIDG’s “Angel Net” project, a 24/7 operation center and website that also serves as a center for protecting children from Internet pornography and other abuses.

In their complaint, the victims claimed Suma befriended them by sending text messages and social network chatting.

He allegedly lured the victims with money in exchange of sexual services at the Walnut Hotel. Sosa said Suma was supposed to meet one of the victims for the second time last Dec. 30, 2011 but the meeting was rescheduled to Jan. 4.

Suma and the victim agreed to meet at a fastfood restaurant on Kalayaan Avenue in Quezon City.

The CIDG said Suma arrived at the restaurant in a Suzuki Celerio hatchback (PIH-381) and picked up the victim. They proceeded to the hotel and checked in.

Once Suma brought the boy into his hotel room, CIDG police officers raided the hotel and arrested him. Suma chose to remain silent on the charges against him.