WHO to cooperate in sexual raps probe on staff
KIMBERLY JANE T. TAN, GMANews.TV
05/25/2009 | 05:20 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday said it is prepared to "fully assist" authorities with any inquiries they may have on an employee accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old Filipino boy.
In a press statement, the WHO said Dr. Marcus Hodge, a former WHO staff who was held by authorities last week, enjoys no diplomatic immunity.
Hodge, 47, was arrested Friday night inside his parked car in Makati with a boy and alleged 21-year-old Filipino pimp Wilson Culling. [See: Cops arrest WHO staffer on abuse charge]
WHO said the Australian doctor was the programme development and operations officer in their Western Pacific Regional Office in Manila who worked in administration but had no contact with the public.
And despite saying that the charges against Hodge do not involve the organization, it said it "condemns in the strongest terms the sexual exploitation of children."
Hodge and Culling are in the custody of the Manila police. Both suspects face a police complaint of child abuse and violations of the anti-trafficking act.
It is, however, up to prosecutors to lodge formal charges before the courts. If found guilty, the two men could face life in prison. - GMANews.TV
In a press statement, the WHO said Dr. Marcus Hodge, a former WHO staff who was held by authorities last week, enjoys no diplomatic immunity.
Hodge, 47, was arrested Friday night inside his parked car in Makati with a boy and alleged 21-year-old Filipino pimp Wilson Culling. [See: Cops arrest WHO staffer on abuse charge]
WHO said the Australian doctor was the programme development and operations officer in their Western Pacific Regional Office in Manila who worked in administration but had no contact with the public.
And despite saying that the charges against Hodge do not involve the organization, it said it "condemns in the strongest terms the sexual exploitation of children."
Hodge and Culling are in the custody of the Manila police. Both suspects face a police complaint of child abuse and violations of the anti-trafficking act.
It is, however, up to prosecutors to lodge formal charges before the courts. If found guilty, the two men could face life in prison. - GMANews.TV
