Nancy decries BI's arbitrary release of British pedophile
...seeks probe into the technicality, circumstance of the acquittal

Senator Nancy Binay is seeking an inquiry into the release of a British national who was discharged from detention by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) despite being accused of molesting a minor in Tarlac.

Binay filed Senate Resolution No. 540 which urged appropriate Senate committees to investigate the arbitrary release of Lynch Morris who was arrested for the alleged sexual abuse of a six-year-old girl in 2010.

According to the lady senator, Morris seemed to have received some special preference from BI officials given the fact that a charge sheet was files three years after the victim's parents filed a complaint.

"Napakalaking pagkakasala po ng pangmomolestya sa ating mga kababaihan at kabataan pero parang sinasadyang manipulahin ang kaso nitong si Lynch Morris," Binay said, noting that the BI gave him a chance to defend himself before the Special Board of Inquiry while denying the same chance to other detained foreigners who only have administrative cases.

"Sana po ay mabigyang-linaw kung paano na ganoon na lang ay iniatras ang reklamo dito kay Morris gayong inireklamo siya ng tatlong beses na pangmomolestya sa bata," she said.

A GMA news report said that Morris was arrested after the father of the victim filed a complaint against the suspect for allegedly molesting his daughter three times in April 2010.

The complaint was however withdrawn and finding no criminal record on the British national, Morris' case was dismissed due to mere technicality.

Morris was freed from detention in the Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility in Taguig City, a move that was questioned by Foreigners for Justice and an unnamed immigration official, the news report said.

"There were clear lapses on the part of the arresting officers, the prosecution and immigration officials. Cases like these should not be carefully assessed and thoroughly reviewed to avoid technicalities," the senator pointed out.

In SRN 540, Binay expressed worries over the country becoming a sex tourist spot for foreign sexual predators because of lax immigration policies.

"Wala naman po sigurong magulang na naghangad ng masama para sa kanilang anak. It is important that we make sure that we make our country a safe place for our children to live in," said Binay.