PHILIPPINES
Christian Post
BY NICOLA MENZIE , CHRISTIAN POST REPORTER
January 20, 2014
American pastor and missionary Thomas (Tom) Randall has been imprisoned in Manila, Philippines on allegations that an orphanage he and his wife founded in the country has been operating as a front for human trafficking and that dozens of poor children living at the facility had been suffering sexual abuse for years.
Randall was on a mission trip in the country when state and social welfare authorities apprehended him and two workers on Jan. 12 at the Sankey Samaritan Orphanage in Lucena City, Philippines, reportedly on allegations that he had been negligent regarding alleged abuse and sex trafficking at the facility.
Filipino media reports that Randall was charged with obstruction of justice, while orphanage manager Perfecto “Toto” Luchavez and his son, Mark “Jake” Luchavez, were charged with violating the country’s anti-human trafficking laws. Another worker, who reportedly remains at large, Melvin Garcia, was charged with rape, along with Mark Luchavez. The men also allegedly allowed friends to abuse female victims.
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