A woman was arrested while three minor children were rescued from Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) activities in Cebu, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Thursday, Dec. 5.

In a statement, the NBI said the woman, the aunt of the minor children and whose identity was been withheld, was arrested last Nov. 27 in Lapu-Lapu City during an operation conducted jointly by the NBI Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI-CEVRO) and the United States Homeland Security Investigation (US-HSI) Office.

“The operatives were able to seize from the Subject three (3) cellular phones containing CSAEM (Children Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials) and sex toys,” the NBI said.

“Moreover, three (3) minor children were rescued during the operation,” it also said. 

The woman was presented for inquest before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office for violations of Section 4 (c) (r) (f) of Republic (RA) No. 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act; Section 4 of RA No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended; and Section 9 of RA No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act in relation to Section 6 of RA No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The NBI said the operation was done based on the referral by the US-HSI regarding the child exploitation activities.

Prior to the arrest of the woman, the bureau said that agents of NBI-CEVRO conducted and witnessed a Zoom meeting between an undercover Homeland Security agent and the suspect.

During the Zoom meeting, NBI-CEVRO confirmed that “the Subject is indeed engaged in the distribution of Children Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM).”