PWC Helps Arrest American for Sexual Abuse of Female Minors

At about 7pm on Wednesday (June 3), police rescued four female minors; three girls aged 15 years old and one aged 16 from an American linked to sexual exploitation in Solid Homes Subdivision, Barangay Taytay in Bogo City.

The 68 year-old Harold Glover, an American residing for 10 years in Bogo City was arrested after Bogo City police served a search warrant on his house issued by Judge Jerry Dicdican of the Regional Trial Court branch 25 of Danao City.

The city police caught the suspect inside his room, with two female minors, and with his pants down.

The police also recovered condoms, cellphones, CDs and sex enhancers in his possession.

During the initial inspection on his cellphones, there were video footages of the suspect engaging in a sexual act with unidentified women.

The girls are placed under the care of the provincial government and will undergo medical and therapeutic interventions.

Glover was brought to the office of Vice-governor Agnes Magpale this morning.

“Glover was first reported to the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) in December 2014, CLB conducted surveillance since then. The CLB approached us in May 16 and sought our assistance and we did our job, ” Magpale said.

Lawyer Naomi Truya, CLB’s spokesperson said Glover has a Filipina contact to look for young girls for him. The pimp is now in hiding.

Previous victim

A 16-year old previous victim stepped forward and testified before the CLB.

The young girl met Glover last year. The pimp misled her by saying that she will be paid only to be “touched” but she was sexually assaulted.

Crying and forced to have sex, she thought she had to go to school and needed the money to buy for her school supplies. She was paid P1,800 for her service.

“Were just glad a very brave girl came forward to make the report,” Atty. Truya said.

Chief Insp. Richard Oliver, Bogo City police chief said Glover allegedly pays P1,800 to the girls for sex and P800 if no sex is involved.

“Glover stayed in his rented home for five years. It is possible he has been exploiting girls for some time. The neighbors said, they have seen many women coming in and out of his house,” the police chief said.

Vulnerable

Human traffickers prey on vulnerabilities of the children, parents’ extreme poverty.

“This concerns us, since it’s the opening of school, a lot of girls will be needing money”, Atty. Truya said.

Truya said she is happy that the provincial government has been very cooperative when they sought assistance from PWC and the joint cooperation of the NGO community and the police that lead to the successful arrest of Glover.

“I think information awareness did the job. The police this time are very cooperative and we really need their support and teamwork in this task,” Truya said.

Glover is detained at the Bogo City Jail. He will be charged with violating Republic Act 9208 or the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, Republic Act 7610 or the Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination and Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.

www.cebu.gov.ph