MANILA – On February 15, 2022, Regional Trial Court Branch 262 Pateros Station sentenced one male and another female trafficker for offenses related to the online sexual exploitation of children. In exchange for money, they sexually abused two female minors aged 17 and 7 years old online. This conviction originated from a March 6, 2015 case wherein the National Bureau of Investigation Anti-Human Trafficking in Person Division (NBI-AHTRAD) with the assistance of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) conducted a simultaneous entrapment, rescue, and implementation of search warrant operations in the same area after receiving a tip from a reliable informant. These operations were conducted after subsequent investigation and surveillance confirmed that the 2 accused were engaging in Online Sexual Exploitation of Children activities.
Both of the accused were found guilty of two (2) counts of Qualified Trafficking in Persons under Section 4 (e) of Republic Act No. 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012/ RA 10364) in relation to Section 6 (a) of Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003/RA 9208) and sentenced to suffer a penalty of life imprisonment and to pay a fine of Three Million Pesos (Php 3,000,000.00). They were also found guilty of two (2) counts of Child Pornography under Section 4 (a) of Republic Act No. 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2012/RA 9775) in relation to Section 4(c)(2) of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012/RA 10175) and were sentenced to serve the penalty of reclusion perpetua pursuant to Section 15 of RA 9775 in relation to RA 10175. They were also ordered to pay a fine of One Million Pesos (Php1,000,000). In all four counts of convictions, the accused were ordered to pay moral damages to each of their victims amounting to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 500,000) in addition to exemplary damages amounting to One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000).
Upon learning of the suspects’ conviction, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Jinky Dedumo reacts to the conviction by saying (that): “I was full of joy when the judgment of conviction was promulgated. It has been a long and arduous battle as this was a challenging case. We were also confronted with thousands of child sexual exploitation materials (CSEM) which took a toll on our mental health. But victory was achieved through the multidisciplinary approach that we took. Throughout the trial, we collaborated closely with partners from different agencies and organizations, specifically NBI AHTRAD, DSWD, and IJM. We also utilized the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty or MLAT process here through which the US Homeland Security Investigations was able to provide valuable assistance in further strengthening the prosecution evidence. I would like to thank my colleagues from DOJ IACAT, Office of Cybercrime, and Office of the State Counsel for their technical and legal support so that we can present a solid case before the Court. Through the successful collaboration with these partners, we were able to secure the conviction in a way that also cared for the survivors. Finally, justice is secured for them.”
Assistant State Prosecutor Moises Acayan had this to add: “Upon learning of the judgment of conviction, I was relieved and grateful. Finally, the two victim survivors can achieve full closure. They have finally achieved the justice that they deserve.”
In relation to the State Prosecutors’ statement, Atty. Reynaldo Bicol, Director of IJM Manila Program Office, had this to add: “These convictions play a significant role in the restoration and healing of the survivors. IJM is grateful to our partners in prosecution for their commitment and relentless efforts despite the difficulties during this unprecedented season.”
In observance of Safer Internet Day, IJM launched the #NotOnOurScreens campaign alongside the DOJ – Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, PNP-WCPC, TikTok, PLDT and Smart. The campaign aimed to cultivate a culture of vigilance against the trafficking of children for child sexual exploitation material.
Anyone who has information about an incidence of online sexual exploitation of children is encouraged to report it immediately via these PNP-WCPC hotlines: 0919-777-7377 (Smart) and 0966-725-5961 (Globe).
Key Terms
Online sexual exploitation of children is a crime that violates the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act or Republic Act (RA) No. 9208 (as amended by RA 10364), which comes with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to P5 million. Typical online sexual exploitation of children offenses also violate RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) and RA 9775 (Anti‐Child Pornography Act of 2009). Both have penalties equivalent to 20 to 40 years imprisonment.
Note to Editors
- IJM is withholding the name of the perpetrator to protect the children’s identities
- The Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, also known as the Luxembourg Guidelines, prescribes the use of the term “child sexual abuse material” or “child sexual exploitation material” instead of “child pornography,” except when referencing the name of statute. Sexualized material that depicts or otherwise represents children is a representation, and a form, of child sexual abuse and should not be described as “pornography.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
EVELYN PINGUL
Director for Brand, Media and Communications
IJM Global Programs Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children
About International Justice Mission
International Justice Mission is a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence. IJM partners with local authorities in 24 program offices in 14 countries to combat slavery, violence against women and children, and police abuse of power against people who are poor. IJM works with local authorities and governments to rescue and restore survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and help strengthen public justice systems so they can better protect people from violence.
Since 2015, IJM has partnered with the Philippine Government, international law enforcement, and NGOs to combat online sexual exploitation of children, in particular the trafficking of children to create new child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), including via livestreaming video. We have assisted Philippine authorities in more than 251 operations, leading to the rescue of 895 victims and the arrest of 326 suspects of online sexual exploitation of children (first case dates back to 2011).
