Thursday, 10 January 2008
An IJM investigation in conjunction with local police has prompted the arrest of an American for his abuse of a minor in the Philippines. The 43-year-old man, a convicted sex offender in the U.S., is accused of sexually abusing a Filipina adolescent over a three-year period, beginning when the victim was 14.
IJM investigative staff in the Philippines received a tip that an American expatriate had habitually sexually abused a young teen for over three years and had gone so far as to illegally “marry” the victim when she was 15 in an attempt to legitimate his abuse. After preparing an initial investigation report, IJM worked closely with Philippine and U.S. authorities to locate the perpetrator under the auspices of the PROTECT Act, the U.S. law that makes sexual offenses committed against minors abroad by American citizens punishable in U.S. courts. Presented with documentation of the suspect’s sexual abuse of a minor, the Philippines Bureau of Immigration issued an order for his arrest in June.
However, the suspect was tipped off that police were looking for him and subsequently fled to an island several hours away. Despite his attempts at evasion, IJM investigators were able to track him down and resume surveillance. With confirmation that he was still at large, the Bureau of Immigration worked in collaboration with local police to arrest him.
After his arrest, the suspect and investigators traveled nearly five hours to return to the immigration office police station, where he was booked into immigration custody pending deportation.
In September, the suspect was deported to the U.S., where he was arrested upon arrival and charged under the PROTECT Act.
“These cases are critically important to demonstrate to pedophiles that there are no ‘safe harbors’ left in the world for the sexual exploitation of children,” explains IJM Southeast Asia Director Kaign Christy.
The victim has been placed in a safe aftercare home, where she is doing well. She is taking tutorial classes to prepare for her upcoming educational exams and will enroll in computer training courses.
LOOK! Love146 has projects to help so many more survivors of child sex trafficking. They can finally be safe like in the article above!
"*Pseudonyms have been used to protect the identities of victims and safeguard ongoing aftercare efforts.
Philippines Safehome Project
Rose Marie*, age 14, arrived at our safehome with all of her belongings contained in a small plastic bag. She comes from a street family and this bag also used to be her address. At a young age, she was raped by her stepfather and then sold by her mother into prostitution. Traded from pimp to pimp, Rose Marie became addicted to drugs and alcohol, and attempted suicide multiple times to escape the daily terror she lived in. The day after Rose Marie came to our safehome, one of our caregivers asked her “What is your wish in life?” Rose Marie answered, “My wish has come true. I am home.”
Location: Philippines
Rationale: Children rescued from prostitution and trafficking need restorative aftercare treatment to be liberated from their brokenness and sufferings.
Objective: Provide children in the safehome with holistic rehabilitation through physical, mental, spiritual and psychological therapy. Based on Love146’s Model of Aftercare, this project funds the operating costs for staff, food, shelter, therapy and education to ensure health and safety, effect healing and restoration, promote growth and development and enable the children to become productive members of society.
Project Cost: $175,000 is needed annually"
"Safehome CONSTRUCTION Project
Safe ~ Free from hurt, injury, danger or risk.
Home ~ A place of refuge and love.
Restore ~ To bring back into existence.
Location: Philippines
Rationale: More children could be rescued from sexual slavery if additional safehomes were available.
Objective: Build a safehome that is designed to meet the unique needs of exploited and trafficked children in a region where there is continuing rescue operations and a desperate need. This project includes the purchase of land, construction of the safehome, complete home furnishing, skills training, education, staffing and management. Project is scheduled from Jan to Oct 2008.
Project Cost: $365,000 has been fully funded"
