Senator calls for sex ring probe

Senator calls for sex ring probe

MANILA (AP): A Philippine senator urged the government yesterday to investigate a report that a sex ring has brought Filipino children into Australia for sexual exploitation.

Sen. Ernesto Herrera said the government should check why children can get passports and leave the country unescorted by their parents.

He said such cases could not happen without the connivance of passport and airport officials.

On Monday, an Australian Labor member of Parliament, Lorraince Bird, said she has evidence that a syndicate had brought Filipino children into Australia's Queensland tourist region for pedophiles.

Bird said she suspected police had protected the racket since the early 1990s.

Herrera said the government should talk with Australian authorities to verify the report and prepare steps to stop such the incidents.