Dutchmen say child abuse charges not the real issue

CEBU, Philippines - The three Dutch nationals accused of child abuse for allegedly pressing children to move out of a house in Dalaguete town strongly denied the accusations against them.

In their counter-affidavit before the provincial prosecutor’s office, Peter Jose Gorissen, Willem Hartwood and Albert De Roode said the accusations against them were baseless and untrue.

The complainants, ages 7, 13, and 14, claimed they were physically abused by the respondents last April 30, 2010. They also alleged that the respondents had berated them and ordered them to take their belongings outside the house.

They were reportedly on vacation at that house in sitio Tawi-tawi, which was put on lease by a relative’s partner when the three Dutchmen allegedly barged inside and asked them to vacate the place immediately.

But the respondents said they did not abuse nor exploit any child in their entire stay in Cebu where they are happily married to their Filipina wives. They also said they are “proud fathers to their children” and definitely could not afford nor allow exploitation of abuse of any child.

The three are facing charges for alleged violation of Republic Act 7610 or the anti-child abuse law.

The Dutchmen claimed the real issue is not abuse of children, but the move of Gorissen’s wife to rent their residence to one Kurt Moeller allegedly without Gorissen’s consent. The move was reportedly brought about by marital dispute.

What was worse, they said, was that Gorissen’s wife allegedly sent perjurious documents to the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands so that Gorissen would be barred from reentering the Philippines.

Gorissen, however, was eventually cleared by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, and the Bureau of Immigration, thus, was able to visit the country and came to Cebu.

Gorissen said he was shocked when he found out that it was already Moeller and not his wife who was staying at their conjugal house in Dalaguete. Harthoorn and Roode admitted they accompanied Gorissen in going to Dalaguete.

Gorissen said he has every right under the law to demand that Moeller leave his house, especially that Moeller allegedly was adamant in showing the lease contract.

The Dutchmen said it is untrue that they made the children carry heavy things out of the house because Gorissen even reportedly went out of his way to pay the helpers take out Moeller’s things out of his residence.   (FREEMAN NEWS)