A MOTHER was arrested after she allegedly used her daughter and some children for cyber pornography in Barangay Liwayway in MacArthur, Northern Leyte, last Friday, November 10.
In a press release from the International Justice Mission (IJM) Cebu Office, nine minors, who were victims of online sexual exploitation of children (Osec), were rescued from the house of the suspect.
Seven were girls while two were boys. The children ages were 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
The Women and Children’s Protection Center (WCPC) Visayas Field Unit, Interagency Council Against Trafficking, Leyte Provincial Police Office, Leyte WCP Department, Leyte Provincial Public Safety Company, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and IJM joined together for the conduct of the entrapment operation.
The operation was conducted by the police following information from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that the suspect was sexually exploiting minors for money.
During the operation, Gina (not her real name) was caught by the police offering to perform “sex acts” on her 8-year-old daughter that was streamed live over the internet from their house in Liwayway village.
According to IJM, Gina even tried to hide her daughter from the police officers, but they were able to find her.
“The arrested suspect allegedly produced and sent sexually explicit images of very young children via social media to foreigners in exchange for money... She even allegedly offered to sexually abuse a 3-month-old baby in exchange for money, but the baby was not found during the operation,” a part of IJM’s statement read.
Senior Superintendent Romeo Perigo, WCPC Visayas Field Unit chief, said cyberporn became the suspect’s business.
Since Gina had been doing it for several years, she was able to live in a 4-room house with two televisions, including a LED flat screen; two laptops; a tablet and an entertainment center. She also had a multicab vehicle and a motorized tricycle.
IJM Cebu Field Office Director John Tanagho said that law enforcement is actively tracking down victims of Osec.
“Many people mistakenly believe that Osec perpetrators do it because they’re desperately poor and have no choice. Based on the over 70 operations IJM has supported, that is simply not true,” said Tanagho.
Violations of the Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act), Republic Act 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography Act) in relation to 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act) will be filed against the suspect.
The rescued children were already in the custody of DSWD-Eastern Visayas. (SunStar Cebu)