CEBU, Philippines - The 51-year-old Australian national arrested in Cordova Tuesday afternoon for allegedly recruiting 15 minors for online pornography has vehemently denied the charges.
Peter James Robinson said he did not accompany the minors at the resort nor used them for pornography.
“I don’t know I did not accompany them,†Robinson told reporters.
Even the siblings of the rescued minors vouched for the suspect. One of the siblings who is already at her 20s said that they were just having an outing at the Cordova Home Village.
She said the minors were invited to join them because they want to swim at the pool.
“Di gyud na tinuod kay naligo ra mi, then kalit lang nga naay nanakop nga nag-outing ra man mi,†the woman said.
Another companion of the minors denied that the suspect took pictures of them naked.
“Di na tinuod nga gipahubo ang mga bata kay nangaligo ra gyud na,†she said.
They claimed that some of their relatives who were not invited to join the party invented stories resulting in the arrest. But, Cordova police chief, Senior Inspector Alexander Nuñez, insisted that Robinson was involved in pornography.
In fact, one of the victims, a 13-year-old, confirmed that Robinson took nude pictures of her. The girl told the police that the suspect even brought her to Manila where he lives at Filinvest City in Alabang.
Nuñez said that some of the 15 minors were also found inside the hotel room where the laptop, external hard drives, and cellular phones were recovered.
“Ila lang sad nang allegations kay there will be no operation if the complaint was not verified and confirmed,†Nuñez said.
The police together with representatives from the Children’s Legal Bureau, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development rescued four boys and 11 girls during the operation.
The operation stemmed from the statement given by the 13-year-old victim of Robinson.
Robinson, a Mechanical Engineer, is said to be divorced from her wife and has a 38-year-old Filipina girlfriend in Barangay Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City. Robinson’s girlfriend is said to be the auntie of the rescued minors.
Following the incident, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza has urged all resort operators to watch for minors in the company of foreigners. Radaza said hotel and resort operators should immediately report to authorities if they have guests bringing minors with them.
Robinson will be facing criminal complaints for violation of Republic Act 9208 otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act as amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and RA 7610 or Child Abuse Law. —/FPL (FREEMAN)