Operatives of the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) rescued four female minors from online sexual exploitation during an operation in Taguig City.

PNP-WCPC chief Col. Portia Manalad said the two separate operations in Taguig City on June 22 and 23 stemmed from the raid conducted by operatives of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) against their countryman.

                                                            photo: PNP-WCPC

During the arrest of the suspect in Australia, police found child sexual abuse or exploitation material (CSAEM) or child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in his possession which include photos of Filipinos.

“As a result, the AFP coordinated with the PNP for validation, victim location and possible rescue operation,” said Manalad.

She said the victims were later located and rescued in Barangay Upper Bicutan in Taguig City.

The rescued victims, according to Manalad, were brought to the WCPC office at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The WCPC has stepped up the operations against exploitation of women and children in the country, including coordination with its counterparts abroad.

Two weeks ago, WCPC operatived arrested one person and rescued two victims in an operation in Plaridel, Bulacan, which was an offshoot of an arrest of another Australian at the Sydney International Airport airport after his return from Thailand.

The arrest was made after agents of the Australian Border Force found child abuse material (CAM) images and videos in his mobile phone and Facebook Messenger conversations between him and various female adults in the Philippines who are believed to have received financial payment from the Australian perpetrator for the production of  CAM. 

On June 18, another female minor was rescued in a separate operation in Plaridel, Bulacan.

On June 20, eight female victims of online sexual exploitation were also rescued in separate operations in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces. 

Manalad emphasized that successful operations on online exploitation of Filipinos, particularly minors, requires inter-agencies’ cooperation and collaboration. 

“Thus, I encourage everybody, including the community, to act together to stop this crime that deprives countless victims especially children of their liberty, dignity and human rights,” said Manalad, as she committed to penalize the perpetrators.

The WCPC runs a Facebook page twenty-four hours a day, where people can report online sexual abuse and exploitation of children: PNP Women and Children Protection Center (https://www.facebook.com/wcpc.didmpnp).