Man Nabbed For Bringing Minors To Hotel

[MikeB]

This story is kind of interesting because the police apparently had him under surveillance for 3 days - since he entered the country until they arrested him. Seems like a lot of resources went into this op. Not really clear what crime was committed except maybe the one about not being in the same room with someone 10 years younger.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

THE Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Group in Central Visayas rescued two girls, aged 15 and 19, and arrested a British national, who is reportedly a college professor in Japan, after he was allegedly caught with the minors inside his hotel in Cebu City yesterday. Senior Insp. Michael Vertudazo, chief of the Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Group, said they arrested British national Christopher John Bragoli, 57, after receiving reports that he reportedly took nude pictures of minors. Bragoli was arrested in a joint operation of the Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Group, Fuente Police Station and the International Justice Mission (IJM) inside a hotel along Doña Juana Osmeña Ave. at 3 p.m. yesterday.

During the operation, two girls were rescued, aged 15 and 19. But police will still have to verify the age of the 19-year-old girl. “Mora man gud og bata pa kaayo siya og nawnong unya iyang ingon kay 19 na siya. Amo usa i-verify (She looked younger, but she said she is 19. We will verify this),” said Vertudazo. Vertudazo said that prior to their operation, they received information a week ago, through their counterparts abroad, that there was a British National who will arrive in Cebu. The report said the foreigner will allegedly lure minors to a hotel and would take nude pictures of them. Vertudazo said the foreigner contacted the minors through social networking sites, such Facebook. The police officer said girls also reportedly sent lewd photos to Bragoli’s account. Since the report also mentioned the foreigner’s name, Vertudazo said they were able to confirm that Bragoli arrived in Cebu City last Sunday. Bragoli was placed under surveillance since then.

Surveillance

Yesterday afternoon, Bragoli was seen walking Gen. Maxilom Ave. with two girls. The police reportedly followed them until the British national and the two girls reached the hotel. Vertudazo said they immediately coordinated with the hotel management for the operation. Inside the room, authorities then barged in and saw the two girls sitting on a chair.

Police also seized a cellphone, laptop and a digital camera. “So far, wala pa namo matan-aw ang camera because amo usa to gi-safety basin ma-erase ang file (We didn’t check the camera yet, we kept it safe so no files will be deleted),” said Vertudazo. Bragoli, in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, said he was surprised why the police arrested him in his hotel.

“I really don’t understand. I did not know what I’ve done for them to arrest me,” said Bragoli, who is from England.

Professor

Bragoli works as a college professor in Japan for almost 30 years, teaching English. He said he visited Cebu to have a vacation and was supposed to leave next Monday. He admitted he was with the two girls, but said they were only taking pictures to be posted on their Facebook. “We are not taking nude photos. When the police arrived, they were even wearing their clothes. I did not do anything to them,” he said. He narrated that when he arrived last Sunday, he met with eight minors after making friends with them through Facebook. He said he brought the minors, the eldest was 17 and the youngest was 10-years-old, to a fast food chain and ordered them food. “I fed them because I pitied them. They were my friends and they were nice to me,” he said. “This may have triggered the police to doubt that I am a human trafficker or something,” he added. Bragoli is married to a Japanese wife, but has no children.

“I like kids, maybe because I don’t have one,” he added. Vertudazo said that when they arrested Bragoli, the two girls were immediately forwarded to the Crisis Intervention Unit of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Sun.Star Cebu tried contacting the DSWD and Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare and Services, but they declined to comment since they will still have to check the background of the two girls. As of yesterday, Vertudazo said they will still have to check what case to file against Bragoli, but a case of child abuse may be filed against the British national for being with the minor inside the hotel. Bragoli is currently detained at the Fuente Police stockade.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2014/11/06/man-nabbed-bringing-minors-hotel-374975

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OnMyWay]

His story sounds fishy to me.  He met with 8 minors he met on Facebook?  This is why I tell my 10 year old that there are creeps on Facebook.  She doesn't quite understand the concept yet.

[Jollygoodfellow]

His story sounds fishy to me.  He met with 8 minors he met on Facebook?  This is why I tell my 10 year old that there are creeps on Facebook.  She doesn't quite understand the concept yet.

 

 

Yes it does sound fishy, went on a vacation by himself, left wife at home, met with 8 minors that he befriended on Facebook? How many adults do that with unknown children? His vacation was to meet these minors for one reason or another. If he is lucky there will be nothing on the camera and if one girl turns out to be 19 then he only has one problem. Perhaps the wife got into his Facebook account and notified authority's? 

[Call me bubba]

Perhaps the wife got into his Facebook account and notified authority's?

Perhaps it was someone that he had "chat:with was the 1 who turned him in, knowing that his intentions was inappropriate,

 

sometimes their is a "reward"money thats offered

This is why I tell my 10 year old that there are creeps on Facebook. She doesn't quite understand the concept yet.

 

Yes  ONMYWAY we must make our children QUITE AWARE of the dangers that exist using SOCIAL MEDIA

 

what suggestions does 1 have to offer with out being cast as the bad guy when dealing w/our children regarding media posts?

[Jack Peterson]

what suggestions does 1 have to offer with out being cast as the bad guy when dealing w/our children regarding media posts?

 

 

 

:hystery:  There are none. I mean when, did we ever listen to OUR parents. Rarely is the Answer and then it is always Too late.  :unsure:

 

JP

[MikeB]

I get that he’s possibly a creep and I’m not defending him but I’m wondering about the priorities of the police - tracking and following him around for 3 full days on the basis of what he MIGHT do, in a country where murders are so common and often go unresolved because of lack of manpower and resources. While having the minor in his hotel room is technically a crime the wording of that law is so nebulous I wonder if anyone has ever been prosecuted for it. The headline and photo of the forlorn foreigner sell papers though.

[Dave Hounddriver]

tracking and following him around for 3 full days on the basis of what he MIGHT do

 

Must have been a tip from the International police of some country that send money to Philippines

[Kuya John]

 

tracking and following him around for 3 full days on the basis of what he MIGHT do

 

Must have been a tip from the International police of some country that send money to Philippines

 

More than likely Dave.

Sounds like a planned undercover operation. Holiday without his wife! Exchanged photos, more to this than we know.

[robert k]

If one girl was 19, then doesn' it follow that he was not alone with a minor? l agree it still dounds dodgy but did the police spring the trap too soon?

[Methersgate]

If one girl was 19, then doesn' it follow that he was not alone with a minor? l agree it still dounds dodgy but did the police spring the trap too soon?

 

Nice point - if she was 19.

 

Anyway, glad he is csught.