Raps filed against German tourist

The German tourist who was arrested while traveling with a 14-year-old girl in San Remigio town, north Cebu was charged yesterday with attempted qualified human trafficking and violation of a special law on child abuse.

Herbert Major, who earlier said his presence was misunderstood,  remains in police custody.

His lawyers said they chose to forego a preliminary investigation.

READ: German nabbed for travelling with minor not related to him

“We will just answer all allegations in court which we think is the proper forum,” lawyer Edwin Yu told Cebu Daily News over the phone yesterday.

Major, 63,  arrived in Hagnaya port riding a motorcycle with the minor on Tuesday.  They were about to board a ferry to Bantayan island when they were stopped by personnel manning a help desk for anti-trafficking at the wharf.

Bail was recommended for Major at P150,000 for the attempted qualified trafficking case, and P120,000 for violation of  Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Under this special law, it is illegal for a person to be in a public or private place in the company of a minor  12 years or younger who is not related by blood, affinity or some legal bond or social or moral obligation.  The restriction also applies to a minor at least 10 years younger that the adult companion.

Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Jerome Abarca  recommended the filing of charges against the German national before the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City.

Major was assisted by lawyer Dexterius Ypanto during inquest proceedings yesterday.

Yu, the main legal counsel, said the German and the girl were on a family outing with other family members.

“Her mother was  worried after waiting for them at the wharf when Major and her daughter didn’t arrive.   She learned only later they were taken by the police,” he said.

“The parents are willing to let the other children be interviewed by social workers to prove that they are not hiding anything,” said Yu.

He said the parents, he said, want to get their daughter back. She is still in the custody of Remigio social workers.

Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Fernando Fiscal Fernando Gubalane of Regional Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (RIACAT) said the teenage girl told them she had no sexual relationship with the German.

But Gubalane said being in the company of a minor was already a violation of  the special law protecting children.

“If you are a 63-year-old foreigner, why would you bring a 14-year-old girl to Bantayan?” Gubalane said in an interview.
Gubalane welcomed the active participation of barangay and local government officials as a good response from San Remigio town.

“It’s good thing that they are now active in apprehending foreigners),” he added.

Anti-human trafficking help desks have been installed in different ports and terminals in northern Cebu especially in tourists spots like in Bantayan island where foreigners are expected to flock in.

But parents of the girl insist the German was a family friend who had no bad intentions.

The girl who lives in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, has 10 other siblings.  The German earlier explained that he was assisting the family because they were poor, and was shouldering the school expenses of the 14-year-old girl and four other siblings since last year, aside from giving financial assistance to the parents.

In an earlier interview, Major said he considered himself a “grandfather” to the girl.