German national nabbed in hospital for human trafficking

Senior Insp. Ricky Calong (left) talks to Guillard after serving the warrant of arrest against the German national (CDN PHOTO NORMAN MENDOZA).

A GERMAN national who owns a beach resort in Cabilao Island, Loon, Bohol was arrested by the police while being confined in a private hospital in Mandaue City at 10 a.m. yesterday.

The elements of the City Intelligence Branch of the Mandaue City Police Office led by Senior Insp. Ricky Calong arrested Joachim Josef Georg Guillard, 66, owner of Sunset Beach Resort in Loon, Bohol based on a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Teresita Abarquez-Galanida of the Mandaue Regional Trial Court Branch 56 for violation of Republic Act 9208, otherwise known as Qualified Human Trafficking of Persons Act.

Guillard has been admitted at Chong Hua Hospital in North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City since last Thursday. He is undergoing a chemotheraphy for stage three colon cancer, said Calong.

The policemen were supposed to travel to Bohol to serve the warrant of arrest but postponed it after learning that Guillard was being confined in the hospital.

Calong didn’t have the details of the case but according to Guillard, this has long been settled since it happened in 2008.

Calong suspected that the International Justice Mission (IJM) may be the one pursuing the case against Guillard.

The CIB has deployed two police personnel to watch over Guillard, who is supposed to check out of the hospital today. But Calong said Guillard may extend his stay in the hospital until Monday when they will bring Guillard to court.

Guillard didn’t have his counsel yet as of yesterday but he said he’ll get a lawyer to attend to his case.