CEBU CITY – Five individuals, including a one-month-old baby and two eight-year-old twins, were rescued from their uncle allegedly involved in cyberpornography in Barangay Kalawisan, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu province.
Charges have been filed against the suspect, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, after the rescue operation conducted by the National of Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) and the US Homeland Investigation Office on Nov. 27.
NBI-7 Regional Director Renan Oliva said the suspect was charged for violation of Republic Act (RA) 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Abuse; RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act; RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act; RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Article 8 of the Revised Penal Code.
The NBI-7 said that the suspect was “clearly under the influence of illegal drugs” when the cyber warrant issued by Judge Nelson Leyco of the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court Branch 27 was served.
The suspect was “belligerent and resisted arrest until he was lawfully subdued,” the NBI-7 said.
Tests showed that the suspect was positive for illegal drug use.
Seized from the suspect were several sexual abuse and exploitation materials.
Oliva said that it was possible that the suspect had been conducting his illegal activities for a year.
The suspect allegedly offered the baby and his twin nieces to his foreign clients.
Among the items recovered from the suspect was a sex toy found in a sexual content that the suspect sold to an undercover agent.
Agent Maria Contessa Lastimosa said the community played a key role in the uncovering the suspect’s illegal acts.
Lastimosa said the community should be more involved in the campaign against online sex exploitation that victimizes minors.