• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Authorities are hunting down a Bacolod resident alleged behind cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), following the rescue of 10 minors.
P/Capt. Wilma Silva, head of the Women and Children Protection Desk–Negros Island Region (WCPD-NIR), confirmed Aug. 17 that the suspect, a middle-aged woman, resides in Bacolod.
Silva said the suspect enticed her neighbors’ children with money in exchange for explicit photos, which were then sold online for P500 to P3,000.
She said the WCPD-NIR is now preparing to file formal charges against the facilitator, even as manhunt operation and broader investigation continue to track down the suspect, trace other potential co-facilitators, and locate remaining at-risk minors across Bacolod for future rescue operations.
Silva said that vulnerable or displaced communities, particularly informal settlements far from the city center, are frequently targeted.
“Based on my observation, some parents are aware of it, and it hurts to see that they are turning this into a source of income. If ever we file a case and it is proven that a parent is involved, appropriate charges will (also) be filed against them,” Silva said.
The rescue of the 10 children stemmed from a cybercrime tip initially flagged by the Australian Federal Police to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center, which then coordinated with the Women and Children Protection Center.
Following intelligence gathering and surveillance of the target area, authorities verified the ongoing abuse and launched the rescue operation.
Of the 10 rescued, eight are currently in the custody of the Bacolod Department of Social Services and Development. The youngest is 12 years old.
Silva, meanwhile, urged parents to strictly monitor their children’s online activities to prevent them from falling prey to predators. | TMD
