Ma nabbed for pimping kids online

CEBU, Philippines — A 45-year-old mother was arrested yesterday in Mandaue City for offering to sexually abuse her own daughters and stream live the exploitation for a paying online predator.

Members of the police’s Women and Children Protection Center-Visayas Field Unit (WCPC-VFU) arrested the suspected online trafficker after she offered her two youngest daughters, ages 6 and 7, for online sexual abuse.

The operation, which was supported by the Mandaue City Police Office, through its Women and Children Protection Desk and Special Weapons and Tactics, and International Justice Mission, was hatched after the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime received a cybertip from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, which is based in the United States.

Authorities said the suspect, whose name is withheld to keep her children’s identities confidential, had transmitted online sexually explicit materials involving the two girls.

Police also learned the mother previously offered her 15-year-old daughter for online child sexual exploitation.

Members of WCPC-VFU and social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development rescued her three young children and removed two other children, ages 13 and 17, for assessment.

The siblings are now receiving trauma-informed care.

“WCPC will relentlessly pursue suspects of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) until all suspects are arrested and jailed,” said WCPC-VFU Chief Romeo Perigo.

In a separate development, a woman was charged before the court for allegedly recruiting, hiring, and transporting her 13-year-old girl for purposes of prostitution and/or sexual exploitation.

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has found a probable cause to indict a woman, a resident of Basak Pardo, Cebu City, for trial for violating Section 4(a) in relation to Section 6 (a) of Republic Act 9208 or Anti-trafficking in Persons Act.

The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the woman due to the sensitive nature of the case.

“In the case before us which remains uncontroverted for failure of the respondent to controvert the same it is apparent that the latter recruited the complainant for the purpose of prostitution,” read the resolution penned by Prosecutor III Alex Gabud.

Assisted by her mother, the minor lodged a complaint before the prosecutor’s office against the accused.

She alleged the accused and a friend appeared at their residence in Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City on February 13, 2018.

She was told that they will be going to a condominium in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City, to meet someone, a foreigner.

The minor said the foreigner took advantage of her when the accused left the room.

She said she was able to escape from the foreigner when the latter answered a phone call.

Gabud issued a subpoena directing the accused to negate the allegations filed against her, but failed.

“It is likewise clear from the allegations of the same complainant that in exchange or as payment or reward for providing the foreigner the victim, respondent received from the said foreigner an undetermined amount which was personally seen by the said complainant,” read the resolution. — KBQ (FREEMAN)