A suspected drug pusher from Silay City was arrested by the Bacolod police for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl in a lodge in Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City, at about 8:20 a.m. Saturday.

Detained at the lock-up cell of Police Precinct 3 was Charlie Javellana Balbon Sr., of Purok Mambulak, Silay City, for violations of section 10, Article 6 of Republic Act 7610, or Child Abuse, police reports said.

A DAILY STAR source who requested anonymity, yesterday said Balbon invited the minor, whose name is being withheld by the police, to go to Bacolod City Saturday.

When they arrived, Balbon flagged down a taxicab and ordered the driver to bring them to the Adam's Lodge in Brgy. Bata, the source said. The taxi driver, meanwhile, sought police assistance after he became suspicious of Balbon's plan on the minor, police reports said.

The source said the girl, a grade five pupil in Silay City, claimed Balbon did not force her to go with him in the lodge. Initial reports said Balbon reportedly provided her needs by giving her money.

The minor is set for a medical examination at the Bacolod City Health Office to determine whether Balbon had consummated the crime, the source said.

Meanwhile, Senior Insp. Samuel Mina, Silay PNP acting chief of police, yesterday told the DAILY STAR in a phone interview, that Balbon tops the drug watchlist of the Silay PNP.

Mina said his men were not able to catch Balbon in the act of possessing shabu or carrying illegal items personally. He said he was surprised to hear that Balbon was arrested for violation of Child Abuse Law in Bacolod City Saturday.

Balbon, in an interview over Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, claimed he did not molest the girl, but invited her to have a massage in private to avoid his wife's jealousy.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City police director Senior Supt. Pedro Merced yesterday said, BCPO records have shown that Balbon has no previous complaints in the city, but he has directed the WCCD to investigate deeper on the charges pressed against him.*DMG

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