Suspected pedophile leads cops on car chase

MANILA, Philippines - An American national was found with two 13-year-old girls in his car when he was apprehended after leading police officers on a car chase from Sta. Mesa, Manila to San Juan City yesterday morning.

Senior Police Officer 1 Paulino Laderas, PO3 Lyndon Casauay and PO1 Raul de Claro reportedly observed a black X-Trail van (ZMY-692) beat the red light at the corner of C.M. Recto and Legarda streets and almost caused a collision among other cars.

Laderas and his men signaled the van to stop, but the driver sped off, triggering a car chase that ended at the corner of Corda and Cortiver streets in San Juan City.

When he was apprehended, Glen Odom, 48, an American call center manager, failed to produce his driver’s license.

District Mobile Patrol Unit chief Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante said two girls from Tondo, Manila, not related to Odom, were allegedly found inside his vehicle.

The girls told police Odom invited them for a ride and promised to give them Christmas presents, Quirante said.

The girls were sent to the Women’s and Children’s Desk of the Manila Police District for debriefing.

“The investigation will determine whether the girls were enticed for sexual favors. But definitely there is something sinister with the suspect’s plan against the girls,” Quirante said.

Odom reportedly opted to remain silent on the accusations against him in the absence of a lawyer. Initial charges of reckless driving, driving without a license and violation of the Child Abuse Act were filed against him.