Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano vowed a relentless fight against child exploitation following the recent rescue of seven minors during an entrapment operation in Barangay Calzada-Tipas.
“Walang puwang sa ating lungsod ang mga ganitong uri ng pang-aabuso. Hindi natin hahayaang may bata na alipustain, lalo na sa kamay ng mga taong dapat sana’y nagmamahal at nag-aalaga sa kanila,” Cayetano said in a press release.
(This type of abuse has no place in our city. We will not allow any child to be abused, especially at the hands of those who are supposed to love and care for them.)
”Sa Taguig, buo ang ating paninindigan — ang mga bata ay laging ligtas at laging may kinabukasan,” she added.
(In Taguig, our commitment is unwavering — the children are always safe and always have a future.)
The operation, conducted on September 3, was led by the Philippine National Police National Headquarters together with personnel from the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD)-Taguig.
Local social workers from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) were present at the scene to secure the safety of the rescued minors.
They acted as temporary guardians, facilitated medico-legal examinations and medical checkups, and provided urgent psychosocial intervention.
The local government also coordinated with a child-caring facility where the victims will be transferred for long-term rehabilitation after inquest proceedings.
Initial investigation revealed that the victims’ mother had allegedly been recording lewd videos of her children and selling them online to foreigners for P2,500 per transaction.
The suspect was allegedly assisted by her 19-year-old daughter, who also forced her own child into exploitation.
The two suspects were arrested during the operation and are already in police custody, facing multiple charges under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
Since June 2022, the city has actively monitored and assisted in rescue operations targeting online sexual abuse or exploitation of children.
The CSWDO has participated in 18 rescue operations wherein at least 50 victim-survivors were saved since June 2022. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
