Woman nabbed for online porn
Three minors, aged 12 to 15 years old, were rescued from online sexual exploitation in an entrapment operation conducted by the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG)–7 against a 22-year-old woman in Cordova, Cebu yesterday morning.
The suspect (real name withheld) was caught in the act by the operatives of ACG-7 and the International Justice Mission (IJM) offering one of the rescued victims to her customer to do sexual acts online.
This resulted to her lawful arrest.
The 12-year-old victim was immediately rescued by the authorities, while the other two girls were found at the neighboring houses, after the suspect admitted and spilled to the authorities the whereabouts of the other victims.
The minors are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Aside from the three minors, the DSWD also took custody of three other minors, including the suspect’s two sons, aged two and four, and another four-year-old girl, who were found in the house where the entrapment operation took place.
The three minors will undergo assessment at the DSWD to check whether they were also involved in online sexual exploitation by the suspect.
The suspect allegedly does not only let the victims pose naked to her foreigner customers, but promised the patrons to do what they want, including a “do it all,” in exchange of P3,000.
ACG-7 Chief Leo Dofiles said that they have been conducting surveillance against the suspect for almost two months after they received a report regarding her involvement in cyber pornography in the area.
“This case also refutes the myth that online sexual exploitation is supposedly a ‘harmless crime’ where children are shown naked. Stripping children naked for online pedophiles is traumatizing enough. But online sexual exploitation is so much more,” said lawyer John Tanagho, IJM Cebu Field Office Director.
On the other hand, Dofiles said that the victims will undergo psychosocial interventions which will include therapy and rehabilitation while the suspect is now detained at the Cordova Police Station, pending the filing of charges for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act in relation to RA 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act.