MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has rescued a minor victim of online sexual exploitation in Bacoor City, Cavite.

The case stemmed from a referral by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC), which flagged a foreign national suspected of engaging in the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, including the possession, manufacture, and distribution of exploitative materials.

NBI’s Human Trafficking Division (HTRAD), together with the NBI-Cavite North District Office, launched a probe confirming that the victim was repeatedly abused online. Surveillance operations later verified the minor’s location and identity.

Authorities then coordinated with the Department of Justice–Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT), the DOJ National Coordination Center against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM), the Bacoor City Social Welfare and Development Office, and the local police to carry out the rescue.

Social workers have since taken the child into protective custody, while charges are being prepared against the perpetrators for violations of:

• Republic Act (RA) 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act, in relation to RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
• RA 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by RA 10364 and RA 11862
• RA 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act