Boy rescued from online sexual abuse in Laguna

Manila: Police rescued a six-year-old boy from his mother and her partner who are engaged in online sexual exploitation in Laguna, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday. PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group chief Maj. Gen. Ronnie Francis Cariaga said the entrapment operation in Barangay Pansol on Oct. 17 yielded four mobile phones used to record, livestream and store images of the child's abuse. The operation was carried out following the arrest of a 33-year-old man from New South Wales, Australia on Sept. 19, 2024. The Australian identified the mother of the rescued child as the facilitator of the online sexual abuse and exploitation. The man had been paying US dollars in exchange for child sexual abuse and exploitation materials and for the child to perform sexual acts online. The child was referred to the Calamba City Social Services Department for care and support. The two suspects, whose identities are withheld following legal and child protection protocols, were subjected to inquest proceedings o n Oct. 18 and are now under police custody. The suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act. Source: Philippines News Agency