Filipino cruise members in U.S. face sex abuse charges

A third Filipino aboard well-known cruise lines is charged in Florida for possession of child pornographic content.

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/utIzhQKvL4w?&amp;ab_channel=ABS-CBNNews&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>In a troubling trend on the high seas, a Filipino crew member of a cruise ship was arrested on April 15 on a child pornography charge.Court documents showed Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection agents searched the cabin of Tirso Neri back in December.The 44-year-old is a crew member of Disney Dream. The affidavit said his two smartphones contained child abuse material, such as explicit photos and videos of minors.Records also showed that Neri was booked into the Broward County Jail in Southern Florida.  The latest case follows the earlier arrests of Alvin Gonzales and Amiel Trazo — both crew members of Disney Cruise directly hired from the Philippines.Both were charged in January for possession of pornographic material involving children. In a related case and breach of privacy — a Filipino crew member of a Royal Caribbean vessel, Arvin Joseph Mirasol, is facing five counts of voyeurism, also in Florida.Mirasol was arrested in March. He confessed to installing hidden cameras in bathroom cabins, according to a recent affidavit.He is booked in Broward County Jail with no chance of bail.In statements to local media, Disney Cruise and Royal Caribbean vowed zero tolerance for these kinds of unwanted behaviors.Miami-based civil trial lawyer Spencer Aronfeld has since called for a stringent vetting process in the cruise industry.He also stressed the need to identify potential predators to prevent a repeat of the incidents. “Maybe they need to have a psychologist sitting (and) talking for a few minutes before they hire them,” the lawyer suggested. “Not some (human resources) guy but somebody who has a background in psychology and asks them key questions that might reveal if they have an inclination to do these bizarre things.”Aronfeld added that even after the hiring process, the cruise line has an obligation to check if they are properly supervised and retained. The lawyer clarified, however, that while Filipino crew members were implicated in the cases, sexual misconduct is not unique to any nationality.“It is just a majority of crew members who happen to be Filipinos,” said Aronfeld. “Quite frankly, Filipinos make excellent crew members. They are great with people. I am not stereotyping.”He added: “They are very good with hospitality. A high degree of service and they seem to deliver it with a degree of pleasure and pride that you don’t see in a lot of other cultures.”Aronfeld said there are victims who have approached him related to Mirasol’s case.But he emphasized that securing justice in court will require concrete evidence that demonstrates emotional or physical impact on the victims.

A third Filipino aboard well-known cruise lines is charged in Florida for possession of child pornographic content.

Filipino cruise ship employees arrested, charged with serious sex crimes | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

News

Filipino cruise ship employees arrested, charged with serious sex crimes

Filipino cruise ship employees arrested, charged with serious sex crimes

ABS-CBN News,

Paul Garilao | TFC News Florida

Published Apr 25, 2024 10:41 PM PHT

|

Updated Apr 25, 2024 11:54 PM PHT

Read More:

United States

Florida

Cruise Industry

Crime

Justice

Law

TFC News

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Advertise with Us

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.