2 women arrested, 10 children rescued from online sexual abuse, exploitation in Tarlac
A woman and her sister have been arrested on suspicion of engaging in online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in Concepcion, Tarlac, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Monday, June 16.
During the operation, the NBI said that 10 children were rescued and turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The arrested siblings, whose names were withheld, were presented before the media by NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago who said they were apprehended by operatives of the NBI’s Violence Against Women and Children Division (NBI-VAWCD) during the service of a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD).
Santiago said that of the rescued children, seven were boys and three girls with ages ranging from three months to 16 years old.
He appealed to parents to protect their children against online sexual abuse and exploitation.
He pointed out that exploitation of children is not a solution to poverty.
NBI-VAWCD Chief Yehlen C. Agus said the June 10 operation was part of the follow-up operation of the April 2 arrest of Swedish national Heinz Henry Andreas Berglund in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Berglund was arrested by the NBI based on the red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) on the arrest warrant issued in Sweden over charges for the rape of a 10-year-old girl in 2021.
Before travelling to the Philippines, Agus disclosed that investigations revealed that Berglund has been paying the two sisters for child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM) ranging from P200 to P4,000.
She said the NBI was informed that Berglund travelled to the Philippines to exploit children and the two arrested Filipino women were his accomplices.
Fortunately, she added, the NBI was able to prevent further illegal acts with the arrest of the two sisters.