NBI rescues 3 girls, arrests Australian national in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has rescued three girls and arrested an Australian national, a suspected child offender.

NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas on Friday identified the Australian national as Keith Robert Hutton, 65, billeted at ACE Pensionne Hotel M.L. Quezon National Highway, Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island in Cebu.

Rojas said the NBI Foreign Liaison Division (FLD), Central Visayas Regional Office (CEVRO) and Cybercrime Division (CCD) conducted surveillance operation after the Australian Federal Police through the Australian Embassy in Manila sought the NBI’s assistance.

The NBI said Hutton is a suspected child sex offender and travels to the Philippines to engage in sexual gratification with minors.

Surveillance and investigation showed that young girls frequent the room of Hutton. Sometimes, he himself would meet them at the lobby and join them to his room. Thereafter, a raid was arranged.

In the afternoon of April 27, 2013, after confirming Hutton was in the company of some female minors inside his room at the Pensionne Hotel, NBI operatives conducted a rescue operation. Inside the room, NBI operatives introduced themselves and informed Hutton of the purpose of their presence. Three girls, two of them minors, were rescued.

The NBI seized two laptops and two digital cameras. Subsequently, Hutton was apprehended and brought to the NBI CEVRO office for booking and detention.

A case for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, RA 9208, or the Anti-Human Trafficking Law and RA 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Law have been filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor, Lapu-Lapu City against Hutton.