Two women allegedly engaged in online sexual exploitation of children have been arrested in Taguig City where five minors were also rescued, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
The NBI identified those arrested as Elisa Manansala Navales and Laura Lee May Pascual who were apprehended in their respective residences by the NBI’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD) based on two search warrants issued by Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 271.
“The operation likewise resulted in the rescue of five (5) minor victims who were thereafter taken into custody by the Social Workers of Taguig City,” it said.
“Subjects were presented for inquest proceedings on Sept. 21, 2022 before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Taguig,” it added.
Navales and Pascual were charged with violations of Republic Act No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act as amended by RA 11862, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022; and RA 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Materials Act.
The NBI said that Navales was also charged with violation of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, after urine tests and examination of paraphernalia found in her residence showed the presence of methamphetamine hydrochloride, known as shabu.
It said the operation was conducted based “on an information received from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Taguig regarding minors who are allegedly victims of online sexual exploitation of children.”
“Interview with child victims revealed that certain ‘Ate Buba’ and ‘Ate Laura’, later identified as Elisa Manansala Navales and Laura Lee May Pascual, respectively, were facilitators in the production of child sexual and exploitative materials, and send the same to online foreign customers in exchange for a fee,” it added.