NBI files multiple raps vs Australian pedophile in PH

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday, March 5, filed with the justice department qualified trafficking and murder charges, among others, against an Australian pedophile who was arrested in Bukidnon.

Peter Gerald Scully, 50, violated Republic Act 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012), Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code (murder, child abuse, statutory rape), and the Cybercrime Prevention Act, the NBI said.

“Let notice be served to these criminal elements that the days of their child cybersex operation is numbered. Wherever these syndicates are, we will hunt them down and we will bring them to justice,” said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

The NBI in Northern Mindanao arrested Scully in his rented house in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, on February 20 based on a warrant of arrest issued by a local court for rape, illegal detention, physical harm, human trafficking, and cybersex operation. 

He is alleged to have raped children or coerced them to do lewd acts while filming them. He then streamed the videos of the assaults and sexual abuse to clients in Australia, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe. He allegedly killed at least one of his victims. (READ: NBI digs bones of girl allegedly killed by Aussie pedophile)

Scully is the subject of an international investigation into human trafficking after Dutch police found out about his activities, said NBI Anti-Human Trafficking Division chief Czar Eric Nuqui.

The NBI based its complaint against Scully on the testimonies of at least 8 of his victims. (READ: 13-year-old: ‘Uncle Peter’ Scully sold me for P100,000)

De Lima told victims of and witnesses to child pornography or trafficking operations not to be afraid to approach the authorities. She cited as example Scully arrest, which became possible after two minor girls he abused went to the police, which secured an arrest warrant from a Cagayan de Oro court.

“The government will never relent in fighting this evil but it needs the help of a vigilant citizenry,” the justice secretary said.

As of 2013, cases handled by the NBI and the Philippine National Police cybercrime division showed that online child abuse was the leading cyber-related crime in the country, De Lima said. Of the more than 200 cases that the two law enforcement agencies handled, 46% were related to online child abuse, and 25% were related to online sextortion.

PNP data show that the Philippines is one of the top 10 producers of child pornography in the world. Authorities consider Cebu, Cagayan de Oro City, Metro Manila, Angeles City as hotspots. – Rappler.com