NBI rescues six minors from online child sexual abuse

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have rescued six minors, the youngest being eight years old, in Surigao del Sur from online sexual exploitation.

NBI Human Trafficking Division Chief Ma. Rosalie Laguardia said the NBI also arrested the Filipino who was allegedly selling child sexual abuse and exploitation materials during its operation in a remote barrio in Bislig last week.

“‘Yung local facilitator po natin ay magulang nitong dalawa sa mga na-rescue natin na minor. ‘Yung dalawa po ay pamangkin niya at ‘yung another two ay kapitbahay po,” she said.

(Our local facilitator is the parent of two of the minors we rescued. Two of them are her nephews or nieces, and the other two are her neighbors.)

She said the victims ranged from eight to 17 years old.

“‘Yung amount po iba-iba po, depende po doon sa nature ng CSAEM na pinadadala sa mga foreign customers,” he said.

(The amount varies depending on the nature of the CSAEM being sent to foreign customers.)

According to Laguardia, their investigation showed that the facilitator has been involved in illegal activities for four years.

She said the case was referred to the NBI by their counterpart in the Australian Federal Police following the arrest of an Australian national and the recovery of child sexual abuse materials from him.

She added that the Australian national was referred to the Filipina by a neighbor engaged in similar activities.

“Ito nga po nakakabahala kasi based sa investigation namin, hindi lang itong subject na ito ang involved sa OSAEC dito sa barangay kung saan siya nakatira. Marami pa pong individuals ang involved dito at ‘yun po ang iniimbestigahan namin,” she said.

(This is what is concerning because based on our investigation, not only is this subject involved in OSAEC in the barangay where she lives. There are many more individuals involved, and that is what we are investigating.) —AOL, GMA News