Photo courtesy of International Justice Mission – Cebu
A three-year-old boy from Lapu-Lapu City is the latest child rescued from the hands of his mother, who admitted to have sexually abused her child infront of a camera in exchange for money.
The boy is a victim of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) and was rescued in an entrapment operation a few minutes past 2 p.m. on February 26 (Monday), according to a statement sent by non-government organization International Justice Mission (IJM).
His mother was the suspected trafficker and was arrested during the entrapment operation.
The boy is now under the protective custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Visayas (DSWD-7).
Smart phones and money transfer receipts were found in the possession of the boy’s mother.
This was pursuant to the implementation of search warrant issued by Judge Ramon Daomilas Jr. of Regional Trial Court Branch 10 which was designated as a Cybercrime court.
Lawyer John Tanagho, IJM Cebu field office director, said the operation came two days after two operations in Biliran and Tacloban rescued 13 victims and arrested three suspects.
“This is a reminder that there is much progress in the fight against OSEC and effective law enforcement can rescue and protect traumatized Filipino children across the country,” Tanagho said.
IJM said the suspect graphically described how she would sexually abuse her three-year-old son in exchange for money.
“Before the entrapment, the suspect even sent sexually explicit videos of very young children forced to perform sex acts on the suspect,” said IJM in an official statement.
It is also believed that the suspect has other victims, including a five-year-old girl, who was pictured in one of the explicit photographs.
IJM said police caught the suspect in the act of offering to sexually abuse the boy and livestream the sex act from her home in Lapu-Lapu City.
The successful OSEC operation was a collaborative effort of the Philippine National Police Women and Children’s Protection Center (WCPC) Visayas Field Unit, Lapu-Lapu City WCPC and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Regional Anti-Cybercrime Group, Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) and IJM.
Police will file against the subject criminal violations under RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, RA 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act in relation to RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
IJM said rescued victims of OSEC need social services such as therapy and rehabilitation.
“OSEC victims would only be returned to the community after a comprehensive family home and risk assessment is conducted to confirm that the home is a safe place for the children and that they will no longer be sexually abused or exploited by their parents or relatives,” said IJM statement.