Five children were rescued by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region XI in Lupon, Davao Oriental, following an entrapment operation linked to alleged online child exploitation.
The operation took place in Barangay San Jose, where NBI agents arrested the children’s parents and their uncle. A search warrant was issued by the Lupon Regional Trial Court.
According to NBI-XI Director Arcelito Albao, the victims include a 13-year-old boy and four girls aged 11, 9, 7, and 4. Three of the children are the offspring of the arrested couple, while the other two are the uncle’s children.
Albao said the bureau recovered receipts of transactions amounting to P125,000, allegedly from foreign clients using online money transfers. A foreigner is also reportedly involved, but details remain confidential as the investigation continues.
Initial findings indicate that the children were allegedly made to perform indecent acts in front of a camera during live online sessions in exchange for money.
In an interview, the children’s mother claimed poverty pushed them to do it, but her husband denied involvement, saying only his wife communicated with a foreigner.
The children are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The suspects face charges of qualified child trafficking (RA 9208), violation of the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Act (RA 11930), and violation of RA 7610 (child protection law).
