A YUGOSLAV national accused of child prostitution and sexual abuse was arrested in the town of Compostela in Cebu by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Central Visayas on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.
The arrest made on Steve Sinisa Hidosan was based on a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 61 in Angeles City in Pampanga.
NBI 7 Director Rennan Oliva said Hidosan is facing seven counts of human trafficking cases under Republic Act (RA) 9208 and another seven counts of child abuse under RA 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law.
In a press conference, Oliva said Hidosan was living with his partner and two children when the NBI team served the search warrant.
“When he was arrested, he could not show any documents to legitimize his stay in the country as he has no passport to show. Also, we found out from the Anti-Organized Crime Division in Manila that he has been hiding from his crimes for some time,” Oliva said.
Hidosan reportedly has been in hiding for eight years due to the crimes he committed.
Agapito Gierran, NBI 7 special investigator, said Hidosan is required to pay a P200,000 bail per count of child prostitution case that he is facing while his human trafficking charges are not bailable.
Hidosan, in an interview, said he has been living in Compostela for the past 10 years and has been raising livestock with his family.
But the NBI 7 said he has been in the town for the past 25 years.
Oliva also appealed to the residents of Compostela and surrounding municipalities to file complaints against Hidosan if they have experienced any abuse from the Yugoslav national.
Hidosan will be flown to Angeles City to be surrendered to the court where the search warrant against him was issued. (ANV / JKV)