COTABATO CITY, Philippines –A 50-year-old New Zealand citizen was arrested in Davao City Friday for allegedly raping two girls, police said.
Supt. Renante Gabico, Kidapawan City police chief, said the suspect, David William Wakefield, works for a certain Mecs Labor Hiring Company based in Mozambique, was arrested after several days of surveillance.
Gabico said Wakefield did not resist arrest when a warrant for his arrest was presented by Kidapawan city police operatives and staff members of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Citing police and DSWD records, Gabico said the foreigner allegedly molested two girls, aged 12 and 13, from Kidapawan City while in a hotel in Davao City last week.
Accompanied by relatives, the two girls reported the incident to the Kidapawan police Monday.
The police chief said the victims positively identified Wakefield when they accompanied lawmen to a hotel in Davao City where the suspect was to board a plane for Manila en route to Mozambique.
Gabico said the girls told police investigators that they were “hired” by two women in Kidapawan City who promised them P1,500 each if they visited Wakefield in his hotel room.
There they were molested by the suspect, he added.
Raiding policemen recovered Wakefield’s mobile phone with nude photos of the two complaints.
Gabico said charges of statutory rape and human trafficking will be filed against Wakefield who is currently detained at the Kidapawan City PNP detention cell.