MANILA – An American citizen could face up to 30 years of imprisonment if found guilty of having sex with two minors in the Philippines.

Donald Mathias, 64, was arrested and arraigned by the US District Court in Miami, Florida last week.

Mathias reportedly traveled to the Philippines in 2007 and 2008 and had sex with two minor Filipino girls. The meeting was arranged through the girls’ mother.

The mother was also apprehended in Tacloban City, Leyte in December of Last year while she and her three daughters aged 9 to 14 were about to meet Mathias.

The two elder girls told authorities that they were abused by the American citizen.

A concerned citizen tipped local authorities about the illegal activities of Mathias and the girls’ mother. The tip was relayed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Philippine authorities coordinated with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit at the US Embassy in Manila in pursuing the case against Mathias.  

"While it is disturbing that the Internet is used to organize such heinous crimes involving minor children, the excellent international cooperation between Philippine and US law enforcement made possible these two arrests and should serve as a warning," said US Ambassador Kristie Kenney.