By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a Swedish national wanted in his home country for two counts of child rape.
In a press briefing on Thursday, the NBI presented Heinz Henry Andreas Berglund who was arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga on Wednesday.
Operatives of the NBI — Violence Against Women and Children Division (NBI-VAWCD) and the Bureau of Immigration – Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) conducted the operation against Berglund based on information received from the Swedish Police Authority through the Homeland Security Investigations.
The fugitive is facing offenses of Rape of a Child, Preparation to Rape of a Child (Chapter 6, Section 4), Gross Sexual Assault of a Child (Chapter 6, Section 6) and Child Pornography Offense (Chapter 16, Section 10a), under the Swedish Criminal Code.
Berglund, who was also previously suspected of raping a 10-year-old child in Sweden in 2021 and has previous convictions for serious financial fraud in 2009 and 2003, arrived in the Philippines on March 18.
Meanwhile, the NBI — International Airport Investigation Division (IAID) has arrested a woman at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for alleged human trafficking.
In a news release, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the arrested suspect, identified as Priscilla Sunga Tabilog, and two others were scheduled to depart for Thailand on Scoot Flight TR 397 supposedly for missionary activities.
They presented various documents from the Alliance of Bishops, Ministers, and Educators International, Inc. which was founded by Tabilog, who also serves as its president.
Investigation showed that the two victims were pretending to be missionary volunteers with Tabilog, but eventually admitted that they had been promised teaching jobs in Thailand and that Tabilog facilitated their travel.
Verification with the Department of Migrant Workers showed that the suspect is not licensed or authorized to recruit workers for overseas deployment.
Tabilog is facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 8042 (Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995) as amended by RA 10022; and RA 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) as amended by RA 11862 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022). (PNA)
