AGAINST ABUSE. Lt. Nera Cabrera, chief of the Women and Children Protection Desk of the Iligan City Police Office, narrates cases of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children during an interview on Monday (Feb. 26, 2024). The prevalence of OSAEC cases in Iligan City prompted WCPD-ICPO and the local government to collaborate in crafting safety measures. (PNA photo by Nef Luczon)
(Special Report; 1st of 3 parts)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – It looked like a typical rural household in the outskirts of Iligan City -- a small piggery out back and a bundle of wires hanging just above the steel gate showing it had electricity and internet connection.
Inside, however, lies a dark history of sexual abuse as the Women and Children Protection Desk of the Iligan City Police Office (WCPD-ICPO) would uncover, following leads and months of investigation.
Ms. D, the 27-year-old house owner, aroused the suspicion of WCPD-ICPO investigators as women and girls are spotted going in and out of her house, even late at night.
“There were many women in her house, and my focus there were the minors,” Lt. Nera Cabrera, chief of the WCPD-ICPO, said in an interview on Monday.
“They were her (Ms. D's) cousins and one of them are now 18 years old but started at 14,” Cabrera said.
The job entailed performing sexual acts online in exchange for money, the police officer said.
Most of the clients were foreigners, but Cabrera said there were also local clients.
Online trafficking enabled Ms. D to start a piggery business.
“She (Ms. D) was earning from it. She was able to afford the (computer and cellular phone) devices, and was able to fund that piggery for her family,” Cabrera said.
Pursuit for justice
In October last year, Ms. D was arrested by the WCPD-ICPO and slapped charges for violation of Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
During the search, investigators found in Ms. D’s house PHP144,000 cash and some United States dollars.
The case of Ms. D was not the first in Iligan City. For several years, the city was on top in terms of OSAEC cases in Mindanao.
In the Philippines, Iligan City once ranked third, according to non-governmental organization International Justice Mission (IJM).
The data prompted the local government to craft a measure to curb OSAEC incidents.
“After being invited by IJM over meetings and workshops, we know that we need to act on it as soon as we can,” City Councilor Rosevi Queenie Belmonte said.
Belmonte said she managed to craft the legislation with the help of another advocate, Armien Alorro, an executive assistant at the mayor's office, underscoring the importance of collaboration in fighting online sexual abuse and exploitation. (To be continued) (PNA)
(Editors' Note: This story was produced under the 2023-24 “WebSafeandWise” Media Fellowship by Probe Media Foundation Inc. and ChildFund Philippines. The views and opinions expressed in this piece are not necessarily those of PMFI, ChildFund Philippines and the Philippine News Agency. Names and locations involved in OSAEC cases are withheld to protect the identities of the victims)
