AGENTS of the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) arrested two suspects and rescued 11 trafficking victims in operations in the countryside this week.
A report to PNP chief Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. said two of the victims were rescued during an entrapment operation in the villages of Sto. Niño and Lagundi in Plaridel, Bulacan.
One suspect was arrested and is facing charges for violations of Republic Acts 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and RA 11930 that punishes online sexual abuse or exploitation of children, penalizing the production, distribution, possession and access of child sexual abuse or exploitation materials
PNP-WCPC director Col. Portia B. Manalad said officers from the PNP-WCPC, with the help of the Plaridel Municipal Police Station and the Plaridel Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office launched the operation.
Manalad said that prior to the Bulacan operation, an Australian citizen who came from Bangkok, Thailand was arrested by officers from the Australian Border Police at Sydney International Airport after authorities detected child abuse material or CAM images and videos in his mobile phone.
Police said a technical analysis of the suspect’s mobile phone revealed Facebook messenger conversations between him and various female adults from the Philippines who are believed to have received financial payment from the accused in exchange for the production of CAM materials they have to send to the suspect.
Acting on the information from Australian authorities, the PNP-WCPC conducted an entrapment, which led to the rescue of the victims and the arrest of the suspect.
The other eight female trafficking victims were rescued in simultaneous operations in different parts of Nueva Viscaya and Quirino provinces on Tuesday.
Three of the trafficking in persons victims were rescued in Bgy. Bone South and Bgy. Poblacion in Aritao, Nueva Viscaya while three others were saved in Bgy. Don Domingo Maldela in Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya and one in Bgy. Salvacion in Saguday, Quirino province.
Another minor victim was rescued in Bgy. Lamu in Dupax del Norte in Nueva Viscaya.
The 11th victim was rescued in another operation in Bgy. Banga in Plaridel, Bulacan, where one suspect was also arrested.
Manalad said they are further stepping-up their effort to save victims of women and child trafficking, in coordination with local territorial units, various government agencies led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and foreign agencies.
