Tarlac woman nabbed for online sexual exploitation of 2 minor daughters

(Photo: NBI/screegrab) MANILA, Philippines — A mother in Tarlac was arrested for allegedly exploiting her two minor daughters through online sexual activities with American clients, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The NBI said its investigation revealed that the woman supposedly used the WhatsApp mobile application to communicate with foreign nationals and arrange online sexual activities involving her children. The amount of payment, which the NBI has yet to reveal, was allegedly received via online payment platforms. Article continues after this advertisement READ: NBI raids ‘illegal gambling’ den disguised as ‘arcade’ in Makati According to the NBI, the case had been referred by the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Manila to the bureau’s Violence Against Women and Children Division (VAWCD) on December 1 last year. The VAWCD then conducted a thorough investigation, including identity verification, digital evidence review, information requests from GCash, PayPal, and the Philippine Statistics Authority, open-source intelligence, surveillance, and collaboration with HSI. After successful identity verification, operatives coordinated with HSI to communicate with the subject through an undercover agent. On March 5, an agent from the VAWCD, via a Zoom meeting, personally witnessed the subject making a WhatsApp video call with an HSI undercover agent, offering him “abusive online activities using her children in exchange for payment.” Article continues after this advertisement This led the NBI to get a warrant to search, seize, and examine computer data from the Regional Trial Court, Branch 113, of Concepcion, Tarlac, which the court eventually granted. On July 14, NBI agents, in collaboration with HSI, implemented the warrant and conducted an entrapment and rescue operation. Article continues after this advertisement During the operation, the subject was immediately arrested after being caught in the act of allegedly offering her daughters for abusive online activities in exchange for money. Two mobile phones were confiscated and subjected to on-site digital forensic preservation before full forensic examination. The NBI then found that one of the confiscated devices contained a WhatsApp account that the subject supposedly used to communicate with foreign clients and carry out her modus operandi. Also recovered from the gadgets were call logs and chat conversations on numbers registered abroad, corroborating the digital evidence gathered during the investigation. The two rescued minor victims were placed under the protective custody of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office for medical examination, psychosocial intervention, and aftercare. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Meanwhile, charges for alleged violations of the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act and Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act were filed against the subject before the Tarlac provincial prosecutor for inquest proceedings. /mr