Mother found guilty of selling private photos, videos of daughter online

A mother who sold explicit photos and videos of her daughter online was slapped with life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million after being convicted of child sexual abuse charges, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Tuesday.

In a decision by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 86 dated February 4, 2025, the mother was found guilty of violating Section 4(a) of Republic Act 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), and the Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act.

The DOJ said that the case stemmed from a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report about alleged Filipino facilitators of OSAEC, which was acted upon by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management Women and Children Protection Center Luzon field unit.

Authorities initially communicated with the accused mother through an online messaging app, where they were offered explicit content of her child in exchange for money.

An entrapment operation was launched after thorough surveillance and investigation, which led to the arrest of the mother and her husband, who is the alleged owner of a GCash account where payments go through.

During the operation, the DOJ said the daughter was caught in the act performing sexual acts online while chatting with an undercover agent.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla commended the efforts of the prosecution team behind the court victory.

However, the husband was acquitted “due to insufficiency of evidence,'' the DOJ said.

“By nature, every parent is expected to shield their child against harm, abuse, or any form of exploitation, and a parent who does otherwise will face the full extent of justice,” Remulla said in a statement. —VBL, GMA Integrated News