Manila, May 27, 2019 — The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines commends the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU), in collaboration with the PNP Women and Children Protection Center and the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI), for the arrest of a U.S. citizen and the rescue of a child.
The deep partnership between U.S. HSI Manila office and their Philippine counterparts at the PNP-HSI TCIU, in collaboration with the PNP WCPC and BI, resulted in this successful international effort. On May 27, HSI Manila, with assistance from the PNP-HSI TCIU, PNP WCPC, PNP Region 3, and BI executed the arrest of a U.S. citizen at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. During the operation, officers identified a minor female victim in Pampanga, Philippines, who was later rescued.
The arrested U.S. citizen will be charged for violations of the Philippine Republic Act 10364 (RA10364) – Procuring a Child for Prostitution, and Obtaining a Person for the Purpose of Prostitution, Pornography, or Sexual Exploitation. This coordinated international investigation involved HSI agents in Manila, Connecticut, and New York, with assistance from PNP-HSI TCIU, PNP WCPC, PNP Region 3, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 3, and the International Justice Mission (IJM), a non-governmental organization.
The TCIU is comprised of 21 Philippine National Police (PNP) officers who trained at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Brunswick, Georgia. HSI TCIUs are a partnership between HSI and local law enforcement and enhance the host country’s ability to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in transnational criminal activity.