CEBU CITY, Philippines – The police here arrested on Wednesday an American boxing promoter, detained years ago for charges of sexual assault charges that were later dismissed, after he and two other companions were found with a girl inside a room in a Cebu City hotel.

The operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detective Management Branch (CIDMB) of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) arrested American nationals Perry McNeely and companions Michael Lopez and Andre Breeding after they received a tip from a concerned citizen about the presence of a minor girl inside the hotel room.

CIDMB chief George Ylanan told reporters Wednesday evening that bringing a minor to a room violated Republic Act 7610.

Section 6 of R.A. 7610 provides that there is an attempt to commit child prostitution when any person, who is not a relative of a child, is found with the child inside the room or a cubicle of a house, an inn, hotel, motel, pension house, apartelle or other similar establishments, vessel, vehicle or any other hidden or secluded area under circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the child is about to be exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.

Ylanan said when they fully opened the door of the hotel room that was left ajar, they saw McNelly, Lopez and Breeding together with a girl who was still a minor.

The police turned over the minor to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

But Lopez denied that he and the others were found inside a room.

“We are just walking at the hall way of the hotel. What violation is that?” Lopez pointed out..

McNeely had faced three rape cases, eight child abuse cases, a mail-order bride case and a grave threats case, which were all dismissed by the court for insufficient evidence.

Following the dismissal of the cases in 2003, the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) deported McNeely.

However, BID Central Visayas regional director Casimiro Madarang said on Thursday afternoon that McNelly’s inclusion in the bureau’s blacklist as an undesirable alien was lifted July 23, 2008, and he was allowed to return to the country.

SOURCE:  http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20091203-239941/American-boxing-promoter-arrested-for-child-abuse