BUTUAN CITY (PNA) – Mayor Sol Matugas of General Luna town in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province on Wednesday, April 19, acknowledged the police for arresting four foreign nationals, including a German police officer, involved in a public display of "lewd and obscene acts" on Sunday, April 16.
“We welcome everyone into our beautiful island of Siargao, and here in General Luna but we do not tolerate lewd, lustful, and scandalous acts in public, especially in the presence of children,” Matugas said in a statement.
In a report, the General Luna Municipal Police Station (GLMPS) said their attention was called after a resort owner and his guests complained of the scandalous acts of the foreigners in their presence, with their children watching.
GLMPS chief Police Capt. Alex Ceris said the incident took place at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday four when foreign nationals – two men and two women – entered the Sunset Bar of the Siargao Bleu Resort and Spa without any permission from the management.
According to the police report, the foreigners performed lewd, lustful acts inside the bar, witnessed by the resort guests, including minors.
“The acts of the foreigners made the other guests of the resort insulted, outraged, shocked, and traumatized,” the report said, adding that a minor vomited after witnessing the alleged sexual acts, while another ran away but stumbled, causing a cut on her head when she hit the ground.
An ensuing manhunt against the suspects resulted in their arrest at the Don Remigio Villas in Barangay 2, General Luna, where they were temporarily staying.
Police identified the foreigners as Marian Felix Alexander Tiedemann, 29, male, a German national; Catharina Rothaas, 25, female, a German doctor by profession; Danny Peter Luneberg, 29, male, a German police officer; and Yke Molders, 23, female, a Dutch national.
Cases of trespassing, grave scandal, and violation of the provisions of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act were filed against the suspects, who were placed under the custody of the local police.
Matugas said the four arrested foreign nationals “do not represent the thousands of well-mannered and respectful foreign visitors who enjoyed their visits and stay on the island.”