INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Thirteen minors were rescued as authorities arrested two suspected members of a cybersex gang in Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported Friday.
The NCRPO said the suspects – a minor and 18-year-old Nazarene Nodado – were nabbed Thursday during an entrapment operation led by its Women and Children Protection Division.
NCRPO chief Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo said in a statement that the sting operation stemmed from a series of intelligence and surveillance operations, with police officers initially engaging the suspects online “to earn their trust.”
The victims and suspects were brought to the Women and Children Protection Center while human trafficking complaints are being readied against the suspects.
The NCRPO and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) then called for intensified collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the private sector in combating cybercrimes, particularly online pornography.
“These kinds of crimes are very disturbing, and the worst of [their] kind as it targets and victimizes innocent children. The impact of cybersex crimes on children are long-term and oftentimes, ruin their lives,” DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos said in a separate statement.
He urged the public to report suspected child predators and other suspicious activities to the DILG or the Philippine National Police hotline. — Lyka Farillon, Inquirer.net Intern
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