No bail for Swiss caught with minors

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office has indicted a Swiss national for qualified trafficking after he was caught in the company of minors during a raid conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation at his rented beach house in Santa Fe town Saturday last week.

Assistant provincial prosecutor Jerome Abarca did not recommend bail for Walter Hauck's temporary liberty.

Hauck, 66, waived his right to avail of a preliminary investigation and opted to face the charges directly in court. The accused was assisted by lawyer Marinel Relacion.

NBI operatives led by agent Agapito Gierran arrested Hauck after he was found in the company of minors inside his rented beach house. The raid was conducted in coordination with the Children's Legal Bureau and the Provincial Women's Commission. It was based on a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Marigomen in Bogo City.

NBI-7 director Max Salvador said that prior to the operation, a surveillance operation was conducted against Hauck because of reports that he is sexually exploiting minors.

Two minors were rescued during the operation. Hauck, however, denied sexually molesting the minors. He claimed that he was only helping them.

Hauck arrived in the Philippines sometime in 2012.— (FREEMAN)