MEMBERS of the Tourist Police Unit assigned to Hagnaya Port in San Remigio, Cebu, successfully rescued six minor girls from Mambaling, Cebu City, and apprehended a 45-year-old Australian national who was accompanying them around 7 a.m. Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
According to Police Executive Master Sergeant Yuri Colonia, chief investigator of the San Remigio police station, personnel from the Tourist Police Unit stationed at Hagnaya Port stopped the Australian national after noticing that he was traveling with six minors bound for Bantayan Island.
The Australian national is currently residing in a hotel in Cebu City.
When questioned, the minors revealed that they had voluntarily joined the foreigner for an island-hopping trip. However, when asked to present identification documents such as a passport, the foreigner failed to provide any.
Further investigation revealed that the foreigner had a prior record of victimizing minors in Cebu City.
The minors, however, claimed that they were not forced to go with the foreigner and that they had willingly accompanied him.
Among the six minors, the youngest is 15 years old, while the eldest is 17.
Despite the minors' claims of voluntary participation, Colonia clarified that the act still constitutes a violation of Republic Act 7610, or the Child Abuse Law, under the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, since the foreigner was traveling with minors who were not his relatives.
“Ingon sila nga gusto lang gyud kuno silang mo kuyog sa foreigner kay mag island hopping, nya kay murag amigo naman sila aning foreigner kay hingamiga man ning foreigner, amiga naman ni sila, mao to na galgal nila ang foreigner nga mo kuyog sila,” said Police Executive Master Sergeant Yuri Colonia.
(They said they simply wanted to go island hopping with the foreigner. Since they had already become friends with him, they convinced him to take them along.)
The foreigner admitted that he had a close relationship with one of the six minors, but this individual did not join the trip.
The Australian national is now facing legal charges in court, while the six minors have been placed under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Central Visayas for further intervention. (AYB)