MANILA, Philippines — Three individuals, including a woman and her husband, were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Lupon, Davao Oriental for their alleged involvement in child sexual exploitation and the production of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM).

The operation, conducted on June 3, 2025, was part of the NBI’s intensified anti-human trafficking campaign under the leadership of NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago (Ret.). It was carried out by the NBI Human Trafficking Division (HTRAD), NBI-South Eastern Mindanao Regional Office (SEMRO), and the NBI-Digital Forensic Laboratory (DFL), with support from the Department of Justice’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT) and several partner organizations.

The case stemmed from a referral by Belgian police, who earlier arrested a Belgian national for possession of CSAEM. During the investigation, the foreign national identified several CSAEM providers, including a Filipina suspect residing in Davao Oriental.

Following surveillance and positive identification of the suspect and victims, the NBI secured a warrant to search, seize, and examine computer data from the Regional Trial Court Branch 32 in Lupon. During the entrapment operation, the subject was found inside a room with her three children and two nieces, one of whom appeared in CSAEM footage.

Also present at the time of the operation were five adult males, including the suspect’s husband and brother-in-law. The suspect and both men were arrested for violating Section 4(r) of Republic Act No. 11930 (Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse Materials Act of 2022), in relation to Section 6 of R.A. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

Authorities rescued five minor children and placed them under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 11 for protective custody and further investigation.

Forensic examination of seized devices—including phones, a tablet, and a computer—confirmed the presence of CSAEM and chat logs indicating financial transactions related to the materials. Sex toys were also recovered from the premises.

The suspects were presented for inquest proceedings before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Mati City on June 4.