Manila: The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has rescued 10 minors from a suspected online child abuse ring in Concepcion, Tarlac and arrested two sisters, the children's relatives who reportedly run the syndicate.

According to Philippines News Agency, in a press briefing on Monday, NBI Director Jaime Santiago indicated that the June 10 entrapment and rescue operations were a follow-up to the case involving Swedish national and alleged child sexual offender Heinz Henry Andreas Berglund on April 2.

The NBI-Violence Against Women and Children Division (VAWCD) initiated an investigation after receiving a referral from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Manila regarding a suspected Filipino female facilitator involved in the production and distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEMs) to international customers.

Investigations revealed that the facilitator and her sister were exploiting their own underage sisters in the creation of sexually explicit images and videos. The Nordic Liaison Office in Manila provided evidence connecting Berglund to the two suspects.

Based on this information, the NBI-VAWCD obtained warrants to search, seize, and examine computer data from the homes of the subjects and victims. A joint enforcement team, including the NBI-VAWCD, NBI Tarlac District Office, NBI Digital Forensic Laboratory Division, HSI, Department of Justice - Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT), Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, foreign media, and Destiny Rescue Philippines, executed these warrants.

The suspects were presented for inquest proceedings before the DOJ on June 11 for violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 11930 (Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and CSAEMs Act), RA 9208 as amended by RA 11862 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act), and RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination).