Briton arrested in Cebu for bringing 15-year-old into hotel room
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Operatives of the Anti-Cybercrime Group in Central Visayas (ACG-7) arrested a Briton who allegedly brought a 15-year-old girl inside his hotel room here on Wednesday afternoon.
Christopher John Bragoli, 57, was detained at the stockage of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) pending the filing of criminal charges.
Senior Inspector Michael Vertudazo of the ACG-7 said anti-human trafficking charges would be filed against Bragoli if investigation would show that his purpose with the girls was to sell their naked photos.
But he added that the Briton would also be liable for violating the Special Protection of Children against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
Two girls were rescued during the operation conducted by the ACG and the International Justice Mission (IJM) inside the hotel along Doña Juana Osmeña Avenue, past 3 p.m.
One of the girls admitted she was 15 years old, said Vertudazo. The other girl claimed to be 19 years old but ACG-7 was still verifying her age, he added.
Both girls were brought to the Crisis Intervention Units (CIU) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7).
Vertudazo said the operation stemmed from information they received a week ago that a Briton in Cebu would often bring minors to the hotel.
Based on the report, Vertudazo said the foreigner would befriend these minors through the social networking site, Facebook.
The girls, he added, would send lewd photos to the foreigner’s Facebook account.
Vertudazo said they followed up a tip, which led them to Bragoli who arrived in Cebu City last Sunday.
Policeman in plain clothes followed Bragoli, who was with two teenaged girls until they reached the hotel. The police coordinated with the hotel management and waited until Bragoli and the two girls entered room 307. They then barged into the room.
The raiding team seized a cell phone, laptop and digital camera, which were allegedly used for pornography.
