A suspected Dutch pedophile, who was with three minors inside a hotel room in a beach resort in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
NBI Officer-in-Charge Director Eric B. Distor identified the Dutch national as Jan Anthonie Van Hierden who was arrested last June 21 by agents of the NBI’s MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) office.
Distor said that during the operation that led to the arrest, the NBI rescued three children – all girls ages 10, 13 and 14 – who have been with the Dutch national in a hotel room since June 19.
In a statement, the NBI said “the minors were turned over to the Provincial Social Welfare Office where proper case assessment and study case report, necessary in the investigation of the case, will be conducted.”
Van Hierden was also presented for inquest before the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for attempt to commit child prostitution in violation of Republic Act No. 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
Also charged were the children’s biological parents who are in Malaysia, the NBI said.
“At the same time, a letter addressed to the Netherlands Embassy was sent informing the Embassy of Van Hierden’s case as well as the rescue of the three minor children,” it said.
The NBI said its agents in MIMAROPA conducted the operation after receiving reports that the Dutch national has been staying in a hotel with three female minors.
“Informants further said that they have observed that Van Hierden had been acting strangely and suspiciously thereby branding him to be suspected as pedophile,” it said.
When confronted inside his hotel room, Van Hierden claimed that “the three minors are his nieces with his girlfriend .... and that the biological parents of the minors are both in Malaysia,” the NBI said.
“Operatives also questioned why the minors were at Puerto Galera with Van Hierden despite the strict prohibitions that minors must be at home or in case of such travel, must be with their parents or guardians,” it said.
“NBI-MIMAROPA and the barangay officials then learned that the biological parents of the minors are presently in Malaysia and are not aware that Van Hierden brought with him the children,” the NBI also said.