Australian nabbed for sex offenses

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines  – Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested an Autralian for rape and cybercrime charges in Malaybalay, Bukidnon Friday.

Peter Gerald Rusell, 51, alias Peter Rusell and Peter Ridell, was collared based on a warrant issued by Judge Jose Escobido.

NBI Region 10 director Angelito Magno said Rusell is facing seven counts of rape.

Two Interpol personnel accompanied local authorities in arresting the suspect at his home in Barangay Violeta.

Aside from the rape cases filed against him in Cagayan de Oro City, Rusell was allegedly involved in the distribution of pornographic materials to his European clients, according to Czar Eric Nuqui, chief of the NBI-anti human trafficking division.

Rusell is under the custody of NBI-Region 10 here to face the rape charges filed with a local court. He will be turned over to the NBI central office in Manila, authorities said.