Police rescued four female victims of alleged human trafficking and online sexual exploitation during an entrapment operation in Barangay Banawang, Bato, Catanduanes on Feb. 4, 2026, authorities said.
The operation was led by the Catanduanes Provincial Cyber Response Team under the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 5, in coordination with the Virac Municipal Police Station, the Catanduanes 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company and other partners from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
Authorities arrested a 48-year-old Filipino male suspect during the operation. Police said the entrapment was conducted after cyber patrols detected suspected online prostitution and trafficking activities. Investigators then carried out surveillance and confirmed the alleged transactions before launching the operation.
Recovered from the suspect were marked and boodle money used in the entrapment and a mobile phone with SIM cards believed to have been used in the illegal transactions, police said.
Following inquest proceedings, authorities said the suspect will face charges for alleged violation of Section 6(c) of Republic Act 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended by Republic Act 10364, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, for qualified trafficking in persons.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said human trafficking is a serious crime and assured that the PNP will continue tracking suspects online and pursuing them on the ground. He said the priority remains the safety and recovery of victims as authorities continue investigations.
