Friday, July 06, 2007 Trader caught with minors inside motel
A BUSINESSMAN was caught with two minor girls, aged 13 and 15, inside the garage of a motel in Holy Name, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City past 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Romeo Rañola, 60, was arrested by members of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB).
CIIB Chief George Ylanan led his men and personnel from the city police’s women and children section in Wednesday’s operation. Ylanan said the mother of the 13-year-old girl, escorted by Calamba Barangay Chief Ester Concha, sought police assistance to find her daughter, who failed to go home on time.
Police then spotted the minors on V. Rama Ave. in Barangay Calamba. A few moments later, a white car with plate numbers GEG 326 picked up the two girls.
Police followed the vehicle into a motel in Barangay Mabolo, where the businessman was arrested.
Several bottles of liquor and wine were confiscated by the operatives inside the car.
Ylanan told reporters Rañola questioned the legality of his arrest, telling police he did not commit any crime.
Ylanan, however, said that the suspect violated Section 10 of the Special Law Protecting Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination.
The section states that “any person who shall keep or have in his company a minor, twelve years or under or who is 10 years or more his junior in any public or private place, hotel, motel...or similar places shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its maximum period or a fine of not less than P50,000.”
The section exempts only people related to the minor.
Ylanan said they found that Rañola has brought the 15-year-old into the motel for four times already.
The 15-year-old minor allegedly received P1,000 every time she was brought to a motel.
For the 13-year-old girl, Wednesday night was the first time she was brought by the suspect to the motel.
Ylanan told Sun.Star Cebu last night that a complaint was filed against Rañola yesterday afternoon before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office. (JST)
