Minor boys rescued from German national

CEBU, Philippines — Two minors were rescued Wednesday afternoon from a 67-year-old German national linked to sexual exploitation in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

The teenage boys, aged 12 and 16, and the foreigner, Ulrich Market, were found inside a room of an apartelle in Sitio Ka-consor when the anti-trafficking operation was hatched.

Market’s contact and alleged pimp, 24-year-old Ryan Guarin, a resident of Sitio Sudlon, Barangay Lahug in Cebu City, was also arrested.

Guarin reportedly lured the boys and engaged them in prostitution.

Superintendent Mark Gifter Sucalit of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office-City Intelligence Branch said they received a tip about the presence of minors with a foreigner inside an apartelle.

He said they immediately went to the apartelle that resulted in Market’s arrest.

In a separate interview, the suspect, however, belied the allegation against him, saying “I did nothing wrong.”

He added that it was just a case of misinterpretation.

“I am absolutely not guilty. There was a minor in the room, I have seen that he is very young but I have done nothing with them. It’s a misinterpretation. Nothing sexual and something like that [sic],” Market said.

Market said he and the boys went to his rented room after swimming off Mactan Island.

It was reportedly the second time Market met them.

Market is reportedly in Cebu for a vacation. He has been renting the room since March this year.

Based on initial investigation by the Marigondon Police Station 4, Guarin and Market met through a dating online site for men.

“Nagkaila sila through Planet Romeo, a male to male dating site. Didto sila nag-start og chat,” said Chief Inspector Juan Capacio of Marigondon Police Station 4.

Capacio said Market gave Guarin P2,000 in cash in exchange for the boys’ company.

The cash was recovered from Guarin during the arrest.

Police also seized two cellular phones and one electronic tablet from Guarin.

 Market and Guarin are currently detained at LCPO’s holding cell pending the filing of charges against them for violating Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-trafficking in Persons Act, and RA 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law.

The minors, on the other hand, are now under the custody of Marigondon police’s Women and Child Protection Desk.

Meanwhile, a Japanese national was arrested after being caught with marijuana along M.C. Briones Street in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City Wednesday night.

Yuta Sagara, 24, a call center agent from Fukuoka City, Japan, was considered a high-value target.

He will face charges for violating Section 11, Article II of RA 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — Verlie G. Laping/UV Journalism Intern/KBQ (FREEMAN)