3 complaints filed vs Australian

CEBU, Philippines - Three complaints were filed before the Naga City Prosecutor’s Office against the 78-year-old Australian national who was arrested last Wednesday for using four minors as his sex slaves.

Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) lawyer Joan Saniel told The FREEMAN that they filed three cases against the foreigner for violating Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Human Trafficking Act and two counts for violating RA 7610 or the law protecting children against violence. The law against human trafficking bars the naming of the respondents and the victims of the case.

In an inquest conducted by City Prosecutor Napoleon Alburo, the respondent filed a waiver of detention. He was assisted by his lawyer. Alburo gave Farina seven days to file his counter-affidavit.

In an interview with GMA-7, the foreigner denied the allegations. He said he sent the girls to school while they stayed at his house.

But Saniel disregarded his denial. The CLB lawyer said he was caught in the act during the implementation of the search warrant issued by Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 8. — (FREEMAN)