The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed before the Tarlac regional trial court (RTC) multiple criminal charges against a teacher for his alleged involvement in online sexual abuse of children.

In a statement, the DOJ said the prosecutors "found that there exists strong prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to indict the respondent identified as Leoncio Benigno Thiem Tolentino.”

It said that Tolentino was arrested in Tarlac on Sept. 20, 2024 during an operation conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) which implemented a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD).

The operation also resulted in the rescue of two persons, ages 19 and 12 years old, it also said.

It noted that the PNP acted on “a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a non-profit organization based in the United States of America which investigates child sexual abuse and exploitation incidents.”

In a resolution, the DOJ's panel of prosecutors recommended the filing of charges against Tolentino for two counts of violation of Section 4(a) of the Republic Act (RA) 9775, the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 in relation to Section 4(c)(2) of RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; violation of Section 4(r) of RA 11930, the Anti-Online Secual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act; and two counts of acts of lasciviousness under the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in relation to Section 5(b) RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Prosecution Attorney Criseldo B. Teoxon-Yanga ruled that, after due deliberation and examination of the pieces of evidence, “the undersigned finds that there is prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to charge respondent Tolentino….”

The DOJ said that during the implementation of the WSSECD, the police recovered several items and mobile gadgets which underwent digital forensic examination that revealed “various explicit photographs involving male minors...."

“Records show that they (victims) were 19 years old and 12 years old at the time of the rescue but 13 years old and 6 years old at the time of the incident in 2019 and 2017,” said Prosecutor Teoxon-Yanga who cited the sworn statements of the victims who were only identified in the resolution as "AAA" and "BBB."

“Records also show that respondent Tolentino intimidated both 'AAA' and 'BBB', used his position as the school teacher, and lured 'AAA' and 'BBB'  on different dates to go to his office by giving them One Hundred Pesos (P100) and a sandwich so he can satisfy his lustful desire,” the prosecutor also said. 

The filing of the cases "is a testament of the DOJ's unwavering commitment to the pursuit of justice, especially in cases involving the most vulnerable members of our society,” said DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla in a statement on Wednesday, March 19.

With this, Remulla lauded DOJ prosecutors handling to case for upholding justice and ensuring that those who commit heinous acts against children are held accountable.