17-year-old arrested for online trafficking

CEBU CITY – A 17-year-old girl was arrested Monday in Barangay Sambag Dos on suspicion of involvement in online trafficking. The girl was allegedly offered to sexually abuse underage girls and the video of the abuses were incorporated into child pornography materials sold to online customers. Senior Supt. Romeo Perigo of Women and Children Protection Center–Visayas Field Unit (WCPC-VFU) said the girl, whose identity is being withheld by Manila Bulletin because she is a minor, has been under surveillance since April last year after police found out she was linked to an American who was being investigated at that time and was arrested in the US. One of the victims was a 14-yearold girl who is now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Police are still searching for the other two victims, Perigo said. International Justice Mission-Cebu director of legal interventions, Lucille Dejito, said it is unfortunate that a crime such as online sexual exploitation of children can also be committed by minors themselves. (Lesley Caminade Vestil)