3 weeks ago
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A 33-YEAR-OLD woman was arrested for allegedly engaging in online human trafficking involving her own children on Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Authorities rescued her two daughters, ages 15 and 13, during an entrapment operation led by the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) Visayas Field Unit on Feb. 13.
Lt. Col. Christian Torres, information officer of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said the operation took place at the suspect's residence in Barangay Santa Rosa, where she worked as a cake baker.
The WCPC had been monitoring her activities since July 2023, conducting extensive surveillance and gathering evidence.
Torres noted that the suspect allegedly charged P2,000 for each explicit image of her child shown online.
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Authorities conducted a transaction with the suspect through an undercover officer, which led to her arrest.
Law enforcement, armed with a warrant to search, seize and examine computer data, raided the suspect's house in Sitio Poo, Barangay San Vicente. They confiscated a mobile phone used in the illegal activities, along with another phone in the suspect's possession.
The two minors have been placed under the care of the Center for Women and Children of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field (DSWD) Office 7 for medical and psychological evaluation.
The suspect, now detained at Lapu-Lapu City Police Station 1, has been charged for the violation of Section 4(a) of Republic Act 11862, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.
Torres said police surveillance initially showed that the suspect's clientele consisted of foreign nationals, but last year, she began accepting transactions from Filipinos as well.
He said that an undercover officer who posed as a customer confirmed that the suspect charged P2,000 for each explicit photo.
Col. Lemel Gonda, chief of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit-Central Visayas, said their team assisted in the operation by conducting an on-site cyber forensic examination of the confiscated devices to strengthen the case against the suspect.
He also said the rescued minors are now undergoing psychosocial sessions with social workers.
Police Regional Office-7 director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan stressed the importance of online surveillance and undercover work in protecting vulnerable individuals.
He said authorities remain committed to dismantling human trafficking operations at all levels.
Maranan also praised the Lapu-Lapu City police, the WCPC, the City Prosecutor's Office and the DSWD Field Office 7 for their collaborative efforts in the case.
