Fight for girl's custody continues

CEBU, Philippines - The child might be influenced by her relatives.

This was the reason given by Cebu Vice-Governor Agnes Magpale and the others who are fighting for the custody of the nine-year-old child who was “rescued” while in the company of a Swedish national bound for Masbate.

Magpale said they are apprehensive that relatives might influence the girl, who is now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 and who executed an affidavit against Swedish Conny Logstreom for two counts of child abuse case.

The minor claimed that Logstreom brought her from Masbate to Cebu and stayed in a hotel. It was reported that Logstreom was the girlfriend of the minor’s neighbor whom she called “Ate.”

The case against Logstreom was raffled to Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 22.

Meanwhile, the petitioners’ lawyer, Santiago Ortiz, manifested before the court that the minor has long been isolated from her relatives since they were not allowed to visit her.

He suggested that social workers of the Municipality of Uson, Masbate will conduct a case study to determine the relatives of the minor as it is relevant for the isuue on custody.

Ortiz told the court that the minor was living with her grandparents in Masbate after her father left them and her mother died. He said the grandfather is sick and the grandmother is too old so it’s impossible for them to go to Cebu.

Judge Olegario Sarmiento of Regional Trial Court Branch 24 has given the relatives visitation rights.

But defense lawyer Marino Martinquilla manifested before the court to request the prosecution to submit a list of names of the relatives of the minor for them to know.

Martinquilla said what they’re doing is for the best interest of the minor.

The relatives of the minor filed a petition for habeas corpus against Magpale, social workers and the Provincial Women’s Commission.

It was Jesus Mitra Jr. who claimed to be her uncle and Mary Jane Mitra-Evangelista, an aunt of the victim, who filed the petition seeking custody of the child.

The minor was rescued by the authorities on February 20, 2012 when she was with Logstreom at the Cebu Port. The two were about to board a ship for Masbate but the foreigner was intercepted by the police for alleged trafficking after he failed to present documents to prove their relationship.  (FREEMAN)