Ex-cybersex victim arrested after also exposing 6 minor kin to foreigners

TACLOBAN CITY — A 23-year-old woman is facing charges after she was arrested for allegedly exposing her six relatives to cybersex in one of the towns in Leyte last November 18.

Marie (not her real name) will be charged for violation of Republic Act No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended by Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act 2003.

At least six children, aged seven to 17, were rescued by policemen and members of the Women and Children Protection Center-Visayas Field Unit.

Authorities requested the media not to mention the name of the suspect and from which town she came from so as not to jeopardize future operations.

According to reports from the Eastern Visayas headquarters based in Palo town in Leyte, one of the rescued minors was a brother of the suspect.

Marie, the police said, reportedly forced the victims, three of them were girls, to engage in sexual acts in exchange for P5,000 from foreign clients.

Seized during the raid were cellphones and assorted sim and memory cards—all used in the cybersex operation.

According to the police, the suspect was once a victim of online sex.

Police Brigadier Gen. Ronaldo De Jesus, police regional director, said that the suspect is now detained at the lock up cell of their town.

“It is bothering how some people exploit our minors for some cruel purpose. Our children are to be loved and sheltered, not abused. I will see to it that the police force remains incessant against these violators who treat minors as their easy prey,” De Jesus said in a statement.

The victims were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for “protective care, evaluation, and assessment.”

EDV