An Australian national was arrested in the Philippines for allegedly attempting to take six underage girls to Bantayan Island without proper identification or familial ties. Authorities are investigating his past involvement in child exploitation cases.
An Australian national was arrested by the Tourist Police Unit at Hagnaya Port in San Remegio town on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, after he was found with six minor girls from Barangay Mambaling, whom he was attempting to take to Bantayan Island . Police Executive Master Sergeant Yuri Colonia, chief investigator at the San Remegio Police Station, confirmed that the foreigner is staying at a hotel in Cebu City.
The minors, aged 15 to 17, stated that they had agreed to accompany the Australian for an island-hopping trip to Bantayan Island. However, when authorities requested identification documents from the Australian, such as a passport, he was unable to provide any. Investigation further revealed that the Australian national has a previous history of exploiting minors in Cebu City. While the minors asserted that they had willingly joined the foreigner, Colonia stressed that this incident constituted a violation of the Special Protection and Discrimination Act. This law explicitly prohibits the transportation of minors by individuals who are not biologically related to them. The Australian national is now facing legal charges, and the six girls are under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD 7) to receive necessary support and intervention.
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHILD EXPLOITATION BANTAYAN ISLAND PHILIPPINES POLICE ARREST
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