Cops arrest WHO staffer on abuse charge
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine police have arrested an Australian working for the World Health Organization on suspicion of sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy, officials said Tuesday.
Marcus Hodge, 47, was arrested Friday night inside his parked car in Manila's Makati financial district in the company of the boy and an alleged Filipino pimp, said Raul Castaneda, head of the police criminal investigation unit.
Officers were acting on a tip that Wilson Culling, 21, had prostituted the boy to Hodge, Castaneda said. Police also found condoms in the car.
Hodge and Culling were in police custody in Manila, Castaneda said. Each man faces a police complaint of child abuse and violations of the anti-trafficking act. It is up to prosecutors to bring formal charges. If found guilty, the two men could face life in prison.
The WHO issued a statement confirming Hodge is an employee, but said the case involved his private life and that he should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
"Without prejudging the case, WHO would like to put on record that it condemns in the strongest terms the sexual exploitation of children and will assist the authorities with their investigation," the organization said.
A person listed as a lawyer for Hodge could not immediately be reached for comment. - AP
Marcus Hodge, 47, was arrested Friday night inside his parked car in Manila's Makati financial district in the company of the boy and an alleged Filipino pimp, said Raul Castaneda, head of the police criminal investigation unit.
Officers were acting on a tip that Wilson Culling, 21, had prostituted the boy to Hodge, Castaneda said. Police also found condoms in the car.
Hodge and Culling were in police custody in Manila, Castaneda said. Each man faces a police complaint of child abuse and violations of the anti-trafficking act. It is up to prosecutors to bring formal charges. If found guilty, the two men could face life in prison.
The WHO issued a statement confirming Hodge is an employee, but said the case involved his private life and that he should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
"Without prejudging the case, WHO would like to put on record that it condemns in the strongest terms the sexual exploitation of children and will assist the authorities with their investigation," the organization said.
A person listed as a lawyer for Hodge could not immediately be reached for comment. - AP
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