Minor rescued, Polish nabbed in hotel

CEBU, Philippines — A 16-year-old girl was rescued and a Polish national was arrested at a hotel in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City after the minor's father sought help from the police on Saturday.

According to initial reports, the father received a text message from his daughter saying she is in a hotel with a foreign national and could not go out of her room.

The father immediately reported the incident at around 10 p.m. and the local police immediately responded.

"Mao to nga na-rescue namo siya kay nangita naman iyang papa unya ni-contact man siya sa iyang papa," said Senior Insp. Sheila Gurtiza, chief of City Women and Children Protection Desk, who led the investigation.

Gurtiza also said that the father was alarmed after receiving the text message thinking that her daughter was being abused inside the hotel room but the minor was actually asking to be fetched from the hotel because it was very hot that day.

"Actually dili siya ganahan mugawas kay init unya mao na nagtuo iyang papa nga giunsa na siya didto sa sulod. Nagpakuha ra siya unya nagtuo iyang papa nga gi molestiya na siya or gi-abuse," she said.

Based on the investigation, the foreigner was identified as Janusz Piotr Ciniewski, 31, from Czestochowa, Poland.

Gurtiza said the foreigner saw the girl walking alone and it was already late in the evening.  He asked the minor if she wants to stay at his place for the night and the minor agreed.

She said the minor claimed that she is of legal age and the foreigner believed.

"Bale nakita niya (sa foreigner) nga ga-lakaw-lakaw ang minor nga gabii na ba nya ni-offer ang foreigner nga adto lang  sa iyang place mu-stay. Nagtuo man ang foreigner na of age na siya ba, nga 18 years old siya mao to nagkasinabot sila," Gurtiza said.

Gurtiza added the foreigner explained that he did not know that the girl was a minor.

"Wa jud siya kibaw nga minor ang bata," she told the Freeman.

The foreigner is detained at Police Station 2 pending filing of proper charges.

"Galibog pa to ang family if mu-file sila og case. Naluoy man to sila sa foreigner kay buotan man actually ang foreigner," she said.

Gurtiza said they are conducting further investigation on the case.

"Naa mi case nga i-file against sa foreigner but nag prepare pa mi kung unsay i-charge against sa suspect. Mag- case build up pa mi kay under investigation pa man gud ni," she said.  — Chelsey Gaile B. Lapingcao, CNU Intern (FREEMAN)