By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested three individuals in Angeles, Pampanga for violating Republic Act (RA) 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act, and RA 9208 as amended by RA 10364, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking-in Persons Act.
In a news release on Friday, the NBI said the suspects were arrested based on information received by the Human Trafficking Division (HTRAD) about individuals involved in the exploitation of children to produce Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAMs) and for live-streaming acts of sexual abuse and exploitation.
The materials and live-streaming content were allegedly being offered for sale across various platforms.
On Feb. 3, the NBI-HTRAD applied for and consequently secured a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) from the Angeles Regional Trial Court.
The agency received information on Feb. 6 that one of the suspects was again offering four of her minor daughters for live-streaming acts of sexual abuse and exploitation.
Acting on the information, the NBI-HTRAD launched a counter-action operation to arrest the suspect, along with two others, implement the WSSECD, and rescue the victims.
A total of eight minor victims, four of whom were identified as victims offered for sexual exploitation, were rescued, the NBI said.
Initial forensic examination on the devices seized from the suspects showed chatlogs that involved offering minor victims for sexual exploitation.
Meanwhile, the NBI said a Filipina was arrested in Bamban, Tarlac on Feb. 11 in a follow-up operation on the case of American national, Joseph Graham, currently awaiting deportation.
Graham was arrested in September last year based on a warrant issued by a US court for 55 counts of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials.
The Filipina, who was not named by the NBI, was found to have sent Graham photos of her minor children and offered them for explicit live shows. (PNA)
