German national, 56, held for “manhandling” boy, 5

CEBU, Philippines - A German national was arrested and detained in barangay Poblacion, Talisay City Thursday afternoon for allegedly manhandling a five-year-old boy who he thought had scraped the surface of his car.

Charges are being readied against Klaus Manfred Graeb, 56, temporarily residing at San Jose Maria Village, Ward 4, barangay Poblacion, Minglanilla town.

John Niño Palma, 5, sustained bruises on his chin and is allegedly under observation for signs of trauma.

PO2 Violeta Godinez of Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of Talisay City Police Station said when Graeb saw the boy playing near his car, he allegedly grabbed the boy by his shirt and slammed him against his parked car.

When the boy’s mother learned about the incident, she went to the police.

Station officer-in-charge Superintendent Resty Santos said Graeb insulted the police by saying “Fucking Filipinos. Philippines steal my money. Corrupt government.”

Santos said he told the German to choose his words well the fact that he is in the country.

“Ako siyang gibadlong kay dili maayo iyang gipanulti ug gipahinumduman nga naa siya sa Pilipinas. Giingnan nako siya nga kung wala siya makauyon mopauli siya ngadto sa ilang lugar, dunay mireklamo niya maong amo siyang giimbitar,” Santos said.

On the other hand, Graeb’s wife, Jacquelyn, 31, told The Freeman her husband is affected by the way his business plans are turning out.

The wife said her husband is an information technology expert and had worked in a bank in Germany as an IT expert for seven years.

She said he gave up his work there in order to live in the Philippines where he would put up a business.

Jacquelyn said she and her husband invested in a cooperative run by her sister, who works for the government.

But being a government employee, her sister was questioned about the investment and the amount of money involved.

She said the government has frozen their money amounting to P6 million. (FREEMAN)