• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Authorities have rescued 10 minors, who fell victim to online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), following a series of joint operations across barangays in Bacolod City since last month.
A recent three-day operation led to the rescue of eight minors, both boys and girls aged 12 to 17, while an operation July 27 rescued two additional female minors. All 10 victim-survivors have been taken into protective custody by the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) Bacolod to facilitate their healing and recovery.
DSSD head Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga said that specific operational details and victim identities are being withheld to protect the children and safeguard law enforcement efforts.
“The investigation is still ongoing and the perpetrators remain at large, so we are withholding other details for now,” Mangga said, noting that they already initiated comprehensive post-rescue care for the victim-survivors.
The city is providing the children with secure residential housing, medical checkups, and psychological evaluation and counseling to address trauma.
She added that the DSSD is delivering modular educational materials for learning continuity, conducting family intervention sessions, and assisting with evidence gathering for legal prosecution.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya, meanwhile, condemned these acts of child exploitation, and reaffirmed the local government’s firm mandate to protect vulnerable youth across the city.
He emphasized that this commitment was institutionalized through Executive Order 44, series of 2025, which established the city’s 24/7 SAFE Hotline to actively combat child abuse and gender-based violence.
“To those who endanger our children, we will hunt you down, and we will make sure that justice finds its way to you,” Gasataya said.
The crackdown was through joint entrapment operations by the Bacolod City Police Office Women’s Desk, the Women and Children Protection Center, and the DSSD. | TMD
