NBI rescues 10 minors from child exploitation

Authorities have rescued 10 minors, aged between three months to 16 years old, from child exploitation in Tarlac, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago announced Monday.

Of the minors, seven were male and three were female. Santiago said they are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

According to Santiago, the case stemmed from the arrest of a Swedish national and alleged child-sexual offender in April.

“Hindi kami nag i-stop there. Tuloy pa rin ang investigation ng aking VAWCD at ayun nga, natunton ‘yung mga contact na it turned out, magulang, tyahin nung mga bata,” Santiago said at a press briefing.

(We did not stop there. The investigation by my VAWCD continued and they were able to trace the contacts who turned out to be the parents and aunt of the children.)

Meanwhile, NBI-Violence  Against Women and Children Division chief Atty. Yehlen Agus said the two women were arrested in Tarlac on June 10.

“Natunton natin ang dalawang bahay na tinutuluyan nitong magkapatid. Natunton din natin ‘yung mga batang ine-exploit nitong mag kapatid at nitong foreigner. Kaya nag result ng pagkahuli nitong dalawang magkapatid at rescue naman ng 10 mga bata,” Agus said.

(We were able to locate the two houses where the siblings were staying. We also tracked down the children being exploited by the siblings and the foreigner. This led to the arrest of the two siblings and the rescue of 10 children.)

Agus said that they were able to stop the two individuals and the foreigners from meeting.

“Lahat ng klaseng pang bubugaw, pang bababoy, pinapaagawa po sa mga bata,” she said.

(All kinds of pimping and abuse were being forced upon the children.)

“’Yung pagpunta nila dito nung April, kung hindi natin na-prevent, kung hindi na-tip sa atin ito ng ating mga counterparts, posible po ay hindi na lang basta show kung hindi pati na rin ‘yung sexual assault and exploitations talaga nung mga bata or even rape,” she added.

(Their visit here last April, if we hadn’t prevented it, if we hadn’t been tipped off by our counterparts, could have led not just to a show, but also to actual sexual assault and exploitation of the children, or even rape.)

The NBI said the subjects have been presented for inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News