Minor rescued from pedophile gov’t official in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines—A male minor was rescued from an alleged pedophile government official who took the minor to a hotel in Quezon City for sex Wednesday evening, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Thursday.

CIDG chief, Police Director Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr. identified the suspect as Victor Suma, alias Varic Lee, 42, Employment Officer III of the Department of Labor and Employment and a resident of 24C Matiyaga Street Pinyahan, Quezon City.

He said that Suma was with the company of the minor when he was arrested inside room 502 of Walnut Hotel located at New York Street in Cubao, Quezon City.

The suspect, Pagdilao said, has been charged for violation of the anti-child abuse law, along with four Walnut Hotel employees—Anthony Benitez, 25, room boy; Michael Torcuator, 27, acting supervisor and cook; Jennifer Fajardo, cashier; and Mike Ron Santos, 21, room boy—for “promoting and facilitating activities that constitute child prostitution.”

CIDG Anti-Transnational and Cyber Crime Division chief, Police Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa said the arrest of the suspects stemmed from the complaints of Paolo Gumaro and six others, including three minors.

Investigation disclosed the suspect allegedly lures his victims with money through text and social network chatting in exchange for sexual services, Sosa said, adding that the victims told the CIDG the suspect often use the Wallnut Hotel as venue.

Sosa said the latest victim rescued Thursday night agreed to meet with the suspect around 7:30 p.m. on board a Suzuki Celerio hatchback (PIH 381) at a fast food restaurant in Kalayaan Avenue, in Quezon City before they checked-in to the hotel.