After being "rescued" from American national, girl escapes from DSWD's custody

CEBU, Philippines - The 12-year-old girl who was earlier rescued from an American national has escaped from the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development where she was temporarily sheltered.

Atty. Irene Caballes of the Children’s Legal Bureau told reporters yesterday that efforts to search for the girl has already been implemented after she had not returned since the opening of classes.

Despite the latest development, Caballes said the parents of the girl were never surprised nor concerned when they heard of the news.

“Wala na mouli ang bata gikan sa klase. On going pa ang pagpangita niya karon,” Caballes said.

The 12-year-old girl was rescued from the company of Preston Jay Kuntz, 41, an American national who denied having intimate relations with her while on vacation in a resort in Sta. Fe town in Bantayan Island last month.

Kuntz was arrested after police and social workers were alerted by the owner of Hoyohoy Beach Resort that an American guest was in a company of a young girl. Kuntz however claimed he is a “friend” of the girl’s family who was supposed to join in the vacation but decided not come at the last minute.The American national was charged for violations of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act that prohibits an unrelated adult from keeping in his company a minor 12 years or under, in public and private places, including beach resorts.

The 12-year-old girl, a sampaguita vendor in Cebu City, was taken into custody by the town’s social welfare office following her rescue. The Sta. Fe medical officer later found her to have vaginal laceration.

Kuntz however said he was “not into young girls” and had no sexual relations with the girl. He claimed that since they arrived in the island, they slept separately at their “villa” in the resort, he in the bed and she in the couch.

He also lamented that when he was arrested, he was not informed of his rights and was not given a lawyer. — Jasmin R. Uy/WAB (THE FREEMAN)