Polish wanted for child sexual assault nabbed in Siquijor

BY AARON RECUENCO

A foreigner wanted in Poland for sexually assaulting a minor was arrested in a follow-up operation in Siquijor on Sunday.

Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Polish fugitive Dairusz Zygmunt Ziolkowski, was nabbed during a Valentine’s Day operation in Barangay Candanay Sur, Siquijor, at around 6:30 a.m.

Sinas said Ziolkowski fled Poland when Polish Judiciary District Court of Wroclaw Fabryxzna issued an arrest warrant against him for a sexual offense against a minor on May 7, 2018.

Sinas said they are now conducting investigation when Ziolkowski arrived in the country and if he is engaged in sex-related offenses in the country.

In May last year, the Philippines was tagged as one of the global hotspots for online sexual exploitation of children. The same concerns were raised in the past years as some pedophiles were reported to have been visiting the Philippines.

Based on the study of the US-based International Justice Mission, it said that cases of online sexual exploitations of children have increased sharply in recent years, with some parents even agreeing to use their children.

“Much as we welcome visitors to our country, foreigners who committed serious crimes in their own country, especially sexual offenders who prey on children will be apprehended immediately,” said Sinas.

“It Is our commitment to the international community to assist counterpart police agencies in arresting fugitives from justice,” he added.

Sinas said Ziolkowski was taken to the Siquijor Municipal Police Station for booking and documentation procedures.