Five people were arrested on suspicion of child trafficking and sexual exploitation. The arrests were made on November 3, 2015 in Purok 9, Tambacan by various units of the Philippine National Police.
In the course of the arrest, nine minors (ages 6 to 17 years old) and one adult were rescued and immediately turned-over to the DSWD in Cagayan de Oro City. The successful rescue operation was based on an undercover report by a Belgian investigative journalist and a Dutch filmmaker who are doing a documentary about online child sex tourism in the Philippines.
Under the leadership of PNP Chief Superintendent Rosauro Acio and upon the instructions of PNP Police Director General Chief Ricardo Marquez, the Women and Children’s Protection Center (WCPC) acted in coordination with several government agencies and NGOs.
According to PNP Superintendent Noel R. Sandoval, the Acting Chief of Operations of the Women and Children’s Protection Center (WCPC), the Center received intelligence information last September that the suspects recruit minors for online sexual exploitation, specifically live streaming of pornographic shows to clients who are mostly foreigners. The shows were done in the home of the suspects. Also recovered at the scene were five heat-sealed plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, along with other shabu paraphernalia.
According to Assistant Secretary Lila R. Shahani, spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) advocacy and communications group, the rescued children will be provided with auxiliary services under the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons of DSWD, including social and psychological services, educational assistance, livelihood or financial assistance, and other related services.
– From the Department of Social Welfare and Development
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