2 suspects nabbed for alleged sexual exploitation involving minors
MANILA, Philippines — Two suspects were arrested in an entrapment operation for their alleged online sexual exploitation activities of minors, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Tuesday.
The operation was conducted on September 8 in Taguig City by virtue of a warrant to search, seize, and examine computer data (WSSECD).
Based on the information received by NBI-Anti-Violence Against Women and Children (AVAWCD) from the United States Homeland Security Investigations, the suspects were accused of transmitting “sexually exploitative images and videos of minors to the United States.”
NBI identified the suspects as Lynette Cruz y Solmia and Paulo dela Cruz y Roquero.
They were apprehended after offering the minor victims to poseur-customers, the bureau stated.
Operatives from the NBI-Counter-Terrorism Division, NBI-Cybercrime Division, and Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking also took part in the entrapment operation, which resulted in the rescue of six minors and various inventory indicated in the WSSECD.
In a text message sent by NBI spokesperson Atty. Giselle Dumlao to INQUIRER.net, she said that Solmia is detained in NBI jail while Roquero was released due to insufficient evidence.
Dumlao added that the alleged exploitation was committed this year.
She furthered that the suspects were charged in violation of Republic Act 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children; RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by RA 10364, and RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
Meanwhile, NBI-AVAWCD confirmed that the minors were turned over to shelters.
“’Yung mga minors [na narescue] ay nasa shelter,” a source who opted to not be named said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.
(The minors who were rescued are in the shelter.)
The source added that the suspects’ digital devices used in transacting with their consumers were also seized by the authorities.
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