Austrian, Pinay wife nabbed for human trafficking

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – An Austrian and his Filipina partner were arrested in a police operation in Oton, Iloilo on Friday for human trafficking.

Erwin Welhelm Gunther Matha, 60, and Waryn Leguin, 37, were collared at their home in Florvel Subdivision, Barangay Buray by members of the Western Visayas police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Senior Superintendent Peter Naboye, CIDG-Region 6 director, said the suspects were charged with four counts of violation of Republic Act 10364 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

The charges against the suspects stemmed from a complaint filed by the local police’s Children and Women’s Desk.

Reports said two of Martha’s former girlfriends were among the complainants.