The Muntinlupa City Council has declared Marcel Messall, more popularly known as vlogger “Mr Pogi German,” persona non grata, or unwelcome, in the city for “illegal and immoral acts” after he uploaded a video picking up a woman who turned out to be minor in Alabang, bringing her to a motel, paying her, and kissing her.
Mr Pogi German uploaded the video titled “I've Met a 18 Years old Filipina Pick Up Girl from alabang Muntinlupa” (sic) on Jan. 7 on his Facebook account.
The video has gone viral, garnering 14 million views, more than 23,000 shares, 31,000 comments, and 360,000 reactions from netizens.
The girl, who turned out to be 17 years old, a minor, has filed a complaint for rape against Messall (also listed as Messal by the Muntinlupa police).
The Muntinlupa police arrested Messall, 29, on Jan. 9 in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal based on the complaint of the victim.
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon urged the City Council to declare Messall persona non grata in the city for his acts.
In a resolution approved on Jan. 16, the Muntinlupa City Council declared Messall unwelcome in the city.
According to the resolution, Muntinlupa police chief Supt. Angel Garcillano “submitted its fact-finding report to the City Council on the vlog of a certain ‘Mr. Pogi German’ which went viral in social media.”
“The said foreigner produced a video showing him talking with a minor Filipina resident of Muntinlupa City in front of Sogo Motel along the National Road in Barangay Alabang and solicited sexual intercourse from her in the amount of Five Hundred Pesos (P500) and proceeded to check in in the said motel,” the resolution added.
It said a complaint for violation of Republic Act 8353 (Anti-Rape Law of 1997) in relation to Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act of 1992) “will be filed before the Prosecutor's Office of Muntinlupa City for preliminary investigation and for filing of cases in court if the evidence so warrants.”
“Based on the police report and also the content of the vlog produced and circulated in social media by Mr. Marcel Messal, the action and behavior of this German national deserve to be condemned as he insults and degrades not only his minor victim but also all the women and the entire residents of Muntinlupa City,” the resolution stated.
It said, “Whereas, the City Mayor himself has recommended to the City Council to declare Mr. Marcel Messal persona non grata for his illegal and immoral acts.”
“The City Council is one with the City Mayor in condemning this German national and declaring him persona non grata will send a strong signal to others that we do not tolerate such illegal and immoral activities in the City of Muntinlupa,” the approval resolution added.
The Muntinlupa City Prosecutor’s Office has filed two counts of rape against Massell before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court., the Manila Bulletin has learned.