3 sisters caught in online porn ring; 5 minors rescued

Five girls were rescued from three sisters who allegedly used the minors in an online pornography racket in Lapu-Lapu City.

Of the minors rescued in separate operations, one was the daughter of one of the suspects.

In the first operation, 16-yearold Jill (not her real name) and 18-year-old Megan (also not her real name) were caught inside a mall in Barangay Pusok at 4:30 p.m. last Thursday.

The PNP Special Weapons and Tactics, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Women and Children’s Protection Desk, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7, and International Justice Mission (IJM) worked together on the operation.

In their investigation and surveillance, the authorities confirmed that Jill transmitted pornographic materials that showed children and offered a 12-year-old girl and herself for a foreigner to view online.

Megan was allegedly the one who claimed the payment, sent through a money transfer firm.

At 7 p.m. on the same day, the operatives proceeded to Barangay Babag Dos where they arrested Melanie (real name withheld), who is an older sister of Jill and Megan’s, and rescued four minors ages 5, 7 (two minors) and 8 years old.

Melanie was caught in an entrapment after she offered to sexually abuse and exploit the four girls, including her daughter, and live-stream the acts to foreigners online.

At 3 p.m. yesterday, another 13-year-old girl was rescued in Barangay Babag Dos in a follow-up operation.

According to the IJM, this is the fourth operation in LapuLapu against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (Osec) in just a month.

According to Atty. John Tanagho, field office director of the International Justice Mission of Cebu, the operations are strong reminders that law enforcement’s ability to investigate Osec and arrest the perpetrators is gaining ground.

“People sexually abusing and exploiting children online in socalled ‘cybersex’ or ‘cyberpornography’ risk life imprisonment when caught by the police and should stop now. It’s especially devastating for the community to see families—in this case three sisters—all involved in these serious crimes against young children,” he said.

In a separate statement, Women and Children’s Protection Center-Visayas Field Unit Chief Romeo Perigo said that online sexual exploitation has become a lucrative family business and the minors are the most vulnerable victims.

The five rescued minors were placed under the custody of the DSWD.

CONTRIBUTED FOTO / INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION RESCUED. Five children, ages 5 to 13 years old, were rescued from 3 sisters who ran an online porn operation in Lapu-Lapu City. It was the fourth such case in a month in that city, the International Justice Mission says.