American arrested for trafficking

CEBU, Philippines - A 72-year-old American was arrested by the police for allegedly living together with a 17-year-old girl in Barangay Simala, Sibonga town.

Daniel Allan Nielsen, 72, will be facing a charge for child trafficking following his arrest Tuesday afternoon.

Senior Inspector Rolando Antipolo, Sibonga Police Station chief, said Nielson and the girl are cohabiting despite the fact that the foreigner has a legal Filipina wife who is in the United States.

Antipolo said Nielson brought the girl to his house to help her after she was impregnated by her boyfriend.

Nielson’s mother-in-law went to the police station to complain that the foreigner and the minor have been living together.

Antipolo said Nielsen told him that he just brought the minor to his house to help her after her boyfriend left her.

“Naluoy lang daw siya sa babaye kay wala lagi daw bana, wala’y pangpalit og gatas, diaper, unya mas mapinanggaon daw sa iyaha ang 17 anyos nga wala nahatag sa iyang asawa,” Antipolo said.

Antipolo said Nielsen has no criminal record in the town and that barangay officials even told him that the foreigner is a good man.

Despite his good background, Nielson was still being arrested by the police for violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

“So far wala ni siya’y record diri sa police station, buotan gyud daw ni siya, pero leksyon ni sa uban ang nahitabo niya nga dakung bawal na sa balaod nato, wa ta’y mahimo naa man ta’y balaud nga sundon,” Antipolo added. — (FREEMAN)