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Monday, October 27, 2003
American with sex videos flees
By MINERVA B. GERODIAS
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Cebu City police was frustrated to learn that American national William Lewis Watts, earlier arrested for taking pictures and video footages of young girls having sex with him, was able to fly back to the United States.
There was no hold departure order for him.
“We have to look into why there was no hold departure order issued. The prosecution was supposed to file the motion for its issuance. There are so many questions that we have to look into,” lawyer Anjanette Saguisag, of the End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (Ecpat)-Philippines, said.
Admitting the police’s frustration, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau Chief Paul Labra said it would now be hard to prosecute Watts.
Watts reportedly left last Wednesday. The police only learned about it last Friday, Labra said.
“Although there is an agreement between the Philippines and the US (to assist in the arrest of each other’s criminals), I admit it will be hard for us to go after him,” Labra said.
Watts’ child abuse case was already with the Regional Trial Court. He was able to post bail of P80,000.
He was arrested early this month after one of the four girls he allegedly victimized complained before the police, who confiscated photos and videos of the girls having sex with him.
He admitted taking pictures and footage of the girls, but defended himself by saying these are for his personal use only.
He said the girls consented to the act and that the complainant just wanted to get even after he caught her stealing money from him. |
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