CEBU, Philippines - National Bureau of Investigation-7 Director Max Salvador yesterday said criminal complaints will be filed today against Walter Hauck, 66, who is accused of child abuse and engaging in cyberpornography.
Salvador, however, said they cannot divulge more information pending the outcome of their examination of the evidence seized from Hauck, a Swiss national, as agents were still documenting them all.
Hauck’s arrest, made possible through a search warrant issued by Judge Antonio Marigomen of the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City, came after three weeks of surveillance.
Salvador said the operation was a joint operation of the NBI-7, the Children’s Legal Bureau, and the Cebu Provincial Women’s Commission.
Hauck was arrested in his rented beach house in Sta. Fe town, Bantayan island past 1 p.m. last Saturday. He was caught in the company of two minor boys, who are now in the custody of social workers. Three other boys, also minors, were likewise rescued.
Meanwhile, lawyer Noemi Abarientos of CLB said authorities would also investigate if the owner of the beach house has any liability and participation in the sexual exploitation of the boys.
She said Hauck has been renting the beach house for more than a year and that concerned citizens were the ones who alerted them of the activities of the foreigner, whom they started monitoring since May last year.
“It (beach house) is owned by a private individual from Lapu-Lapu City who does not live there (Santa Fe). It will be investigated further as to what is the participation of such owner,” Abarientos said.
Aside from the minors, the raiding team also found sex toys and pornographic materials inside the beach house Hauck rented.
Abarientos said Hauck, who never mingled with his neighbors, allegedly lured children to his beach house by offering them toys, games, and food.
Some children would also go out of the beach house during the wee hours, raising the concern of neighbors.
“There was a little boy, crying, and getting out of the house at 5 o’clock in the morning and bringing with him a pack of rice, and he was crying,” Abarientos said.
The incident and similar others were reported to the town’s social worker, who then coordinated with the CLB for surveillance. CLB then referred the matter to the Provincial Women’s Commission.
Vice Governor Agnes Magpale then directed the commission’s Technical Working Group to conduct surveillance in the area.
She said resorts and hotels are required by the 2014 Anti-Child Sex Tourism Ordinance of Cebu to report foreigners bringing minors inside.
“Since bag-o pa ni, I would assume that not all resort owners know. I really need to disseminate the information,” she said.
Rose Jao, assistant officer-in-charge of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said their office is also facilitating the medico legal examination of the minors and providing them psychosocial interventions.
Abarientos urged other victims and their parents to coordinate with authorities and help strengthen the complaint by contacting them. (FREEMAN)