DOJ exec commends PNP for arrest of alleged online sex trafficker in Lapu-Lapu City

Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar on Saturday hailed the arrest of a couple in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu for alleged involvement in online sex trafficking.

The suspects, a 25-year-old female and her male live-in partner, were arrested on April 6 by operatives of the Philippine National Police’s Women and Children Protection Center – Visayas Field Unit (WCPC-VFU) led by Officer-in-Charge Police Lieutenant Colonel Mary Grace Madayag, together with members of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO).

“We congratulate our tenacious officers from WCPC-VFU for not letting the COVID-19 lockdowns halt their effort to enforce the law,” Aglipay-Villar, Department of Justice’s Undersecretary-in-Charge of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), said.

The operatives conducted the arrest based on arrest warrants issued on Feb. 26 by Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court Branch 70 Judge Christine Muga-Abad.

The couple's client was allegedly a child sex offender abroad.

The victim, who was earlier rescued by WCPC-VFU operatives in July last year, is now receiving aftercare from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The female suspect will face charges of violation of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Anti-Child Pornography Act.

Her live-in partner, meanwhile, will face charges of violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law.

“We are facing a highly likely scenario of unscrupulous traffickers taking advantage of the situation. Vulnerable children are confined in their homes and there’s increased offending activity from online child sex offenders abroad as already observed by foreign law enforcement agencies. This calls for extra vigilance not only from our law enforcers, but from all of us," Aglipay-Villar said.

The DOJ undersecretary said IACAT will "remain ready and able to attend to cases of trafficking in persons."

The DSWD also took custody of the couple's three children who are all below seven years old since they are considered at risk.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation coordinated with the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center in March 2019 about the activities of the couple's client, Alan Dennis Wolff.

He is scheduled to be sentenced this month by a court in Minnesota after he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children.

Meanwhile, the End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes Philippines (ECPAT) said the incidence of livestreams of child sex abuse in the country is expected to intensify as many children stay in their homes during the enhanced community quarantine.

Non-government organization International Justice Mission in the Philippines also cited observations by Europol and other authorities that online child sexual exploitation incidents have increased since COVID-19 lockdowns.

As part of efforts to curb online sexual exploitation of children, the group has pushed for the establishment of an INHOPE Reporting Hotline in the country to allow internet users to easily report child sex abuse materials online.

The Child Rights Network (CRN) on Tuesday urged the government and private sector to improve efforts in putting a stop to the growing number of online sexual exploitation amid the enhanced community quarantine. —KG, GMA News