ILIGAN CITY (August 3) – Police rescued eight minors and arrested three suspects involved in an online human trafficking in a simultaneous operation conducted by the Philippine Nation Police Women and Children Protection Center Mindanao Field Unit (WCPC MFU), Iligan City Police Office (ICPO) and the PNP’s Special Weapons and Tactics (PNP SWAT), Thursday morning in Barangays Poblacion and Tambacan, here.
Police identified the arrested suspects in Tambacan as Almera Serafin, 24; Aiza Cabante, 30; neighbors and a 17 years old in Poblacion area.
Senior Inspector Eric Logronio, officer in charge of the Iligan City Police Station 4, said two 14 year old twins, a four year old and another one year and 11 months old–all girls, and a seven year old boy were rescued.
Senior Superintendent Christine Tan, chief of WCPC MFU, it was an entrapment and rescue operation of teh two children in Barangay Poblacion and six in Tambacan.
Tan said the information was provided by concerned citizens. They implemented the operation after a thorough investigation, surveillance and validation.
“This is actually an entrapment and rescue operation of a minor children involved in online trafficking,” Tan said.
“We are also engaging online so that when they performed they can be tracked down through a state of the art application that we used”, she added.
The victims were directed to perform live sex and or pose nude in front of a camera while foreigners are online at the house of Serafin.
Cabante was in-charge in claiming the payment using her identification card but said she denied she knew the foreigners because she just signed the document at the money transfer.
“Itong mga biktima ay mga pamangkin at pinsan lang ni Serafin. Ito na talaga ang mga ginagamit nila kung may mga mag-engage sa mga ganitong klase na ilegal na negosyo,” Tan said.
Serafin however said she already stopped engaging on online activity and now selling dry goods at their house in Purok 1, Tambacan. “I stopped it long time ago. I am now selling ukay-ukay,” Serafin said.
Operatives were able to recover evidences such as the chat logs where offers are recorded, videos and pornographic materials. Payments raised from P2,500 to P5,000 per show through Paypal, among others.
Victims are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) where they will undergo physiological evaluation, according to Tan.
Cases will be filed against the suspects with no bail recommended based on Republic Act 9208 or the Anti Trafficking and as amended by RA 10364 in relation to 10175, RA 9775-otherwise known as Anti-Child Pornography Act and RA 7610 or Child Abuse. Divina Suson/ NewsLine.ph
