Pinamungajan, Cebu
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 31-year-old mother from Cebu City will be spending some time in jail after she was nabbed for allegedly peddling her 8-year-old daughter by offering the child’s explicit photos and videos to foreign customers online.
The suspect (name withheld) was tagged as a high-volume producer and seller of child pornography.
The mother was nabbed during the serving of a cyber warrant against her on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at her house in Sitio Bulubugan, Barangay Tajao, Pinamungajan, Cebu City.
In a press release, the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) disclosed that the mother offers sensitive photos and videos of her child online.
She also allegedly consented to “live shows” and “meet-ups” for customers to abuse her young daughter.
Aside from this, she would also present her own “live shows” to customers.
NBI-7 stated that the suspect would produce, direct, manufacture, facilitate, or create these child pornographic materials inside her house in Barangay Tajo, Pinamungajan, Cebu.
It also revealed that the operation stemmed from a case referral they received from the Homeland Security Investigation Office in the United States of America.
Her name reportedly came up on the U.S. Homeland’s radar after one of her foreign clients was arrested for possession of anti-child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM).
On June 18, 2024, operatives viewed online the actual interaction of a Homeland undercover agent with the mother via a video conferencing platform.
In the conversation, the two negotiated the terms of their supposed meet-up in Cebu and the mother allegedly consented for her daughter to be sexually abused in exchange for money.
She eventually asked for P2,000 to pay for her electric bill.
In exchange, she offered a mobile phone video of her 8-year-old daughter exposing her naked torso while taking a bath.
The minor was seemingly being directed by her mother to make provocative poses to the camera, according to the press release.
A warrant to search, seize, and examine computer data against the mother was issued by Judge Ramon B. Daomilas Jr. of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 11 on January 30.
On Thursday morning, authorities served the cyber warrant and caught her engaging in a chat with the undercover agent demanding more money.
Operatives seized from the suspect a Wifi router, a sex toy, two mobile phones, and two money transfer receipts from two male foreign senders.
The agency said that the confiscated devices will be subjected to forensic examination, with the partial results yielding CSAEM.
During the operation, personnel rescued the 8-year-old daughter, 12-year-old son, and her partner’s 15-year-old niece.
According to NBI-7, the minors were brought to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The mother, on the other hand, is in the agency’s custody and is set to be subjected to inquest proceedings on Monday, February 5.
NBI-7 further disclosed that the suspect’s partner was not apprehended during the operation as they had no sufficient evidence against the individual.
The agency relayed that the mother will be facing the following charges:
- Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Child Pornography)
- RA 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act (Anti-OSAEC & Anti-CSAEM Act)
- RA 9208 as amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2012
- and RA 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act in relation to RA 10175
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