MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation launched the Philippine Survivor Network (PSN) today, Feb. 8, 2023, as they stepped up to lead a movement to protect vulnerable people through a robust Philippine justice system.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation launched the Philippine Survivor Network (PSN) today, Feb. 8, 2023, as they stepped up to lead a movement to protect vulnerable people through a robust Philippine justice system.

The PSN provides opportunities for members, who are at least 15 years old, to develop their leadership abilities and to actively participate in decision-making that impacts survivors and future generations. Its members – currently at 81 – are survivors of child sexual abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, and online sexual exploitation of children.

“The PSN aims to contribute to creating safer communities in the Philippines, in which vulnerable people are protected from all types of violence, the survivors are sustainably restored, and the justice system listens and works together with survivors. We are excited to embark on this journey and look forward to collaborating with government and non-government partners to achieve this goal,” said Monica Renomeron, PSN Chairperson.

An initiative of International Justice Mission (IJM), the PSN works to ensure that solutions against online sexual exploitation of children are informed by the real-life experiences of survivors. “IJM recognizes that survivors will become catalytic leaders in the movement to protect children. They have unique and powerful experiences and expertise to share, including insight into the nature of exploitation, the factors that allow it to flourish, the perpetrators who profit from it, and the solutions that can stop it,” said Atty. Samson Inocencio Jr., National Director of IJM Philippines and Vice President of IJM's Program Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children.




“IJM recognizes that survivors will become catalytic leaders in the movement to protect children. They have unique and powerful experiences and expertise to share, including insight into the nature of exploitation, the factors that allow it to flourish, the perpetrators who profit from it, and the solutions that can stop it.”


The PSN is a local chapter of the Global Survivor Network (GSN), an international group of survivors leading a global movement to protect communities around the world from violence. Through the GSN, survivors of violence from around the world are advocating for change in their communities and speaking out as leaders.

In the Philippines, IJM has supported authorities in rescuing more than 1,000 survivors of online child sexual exploitation, with operations dating back to 2011. Before transitioning its program to combating online sexual exploitation of children in 2016, IJM Philippines worked to combat the sex trafficking of children in bars and brothels, leading to dramatic decreases in the crime’s prevalence in the cities where it partnered with local authorities.




For more inquiries, contact:
Evelyn Pingul
Director, Brand, Media, and Communications Team
IJM Global Programs Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children
epingul@ijm.org

ABOUT THE PHILIPPINE SURVIVOR NETWORK
The Philippine Survivor Network (PSN) is an all-inclusive program for survivors of child sexual abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, and online sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines, who desire and pursue safe communities through justice systems that protect the most vulnerable people. A local chapter of the Global Survivor Network (GSN), the PSN facilitates opportunities for leadership development and advocacy involvement of its members at the community and national levels. To learn more about the GSN, visit globalsurvivornetwork.org.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION
International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence. IJM works with local authorities and governments to rescue and restore survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and help strengthen public justice systems so they can better protect people from violence. Its 21 years of work in the Philippines led to a dramatic decrease in the prevalence of sex trafficking of children in bars and brothels—reductions ranging from 72%-86% in the cities where it partnered with local authorities. In 2016, IJM fully transitioned its program in the Philippines to combat online sexual exploitation of children, in particular the trafficking of children to create new child sexual abuse materials, including via livestreaming. As of January 20, 2023, IJM has assisted Philippine authorities in 317 operations, leading to the rescue of 1,063 victims and arrest of 329 suspects of online sexual exploitation of children (first case dates to 2011).

Philippine Survivor Network Launched

TAGUIG CITY, PHILIPPINES – A man was sentenced to life imprisonment for trafficking minors for child sexual abuse in exchange for money from online sex offenders.


TAGUIG CITY, PHILIPPINES – A man was sentenced to life imprisonment for trafficking minors for child sexual abuse in exchange for money from online sex offenders.
On March 10, 2023, the Regional Trial Court Branch 15 in Taguig City found the trafficker (name withheld to protect the identity of his victim) guilty of qualified trafficking.
“The conviction is a win for everyone who worked hard on this case to ensure that the victim gets the justice he deserves. The fight against online sexual exploitation of children continues, and I hope that the harsh penalties will deter someone from committing a crime,” said Prosecutor Princess Roxanne Sucor.
The trafficker was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay a fine of P2 million, along with a total of P600,000 in damages to the complainant. On January 23, 2019, the Philippine National Police – Women and Children Protection Center (PNP – WCPC) arrested the trafficker and rescued a male minor victim in Taguig City.
The case stemmed from a referral from the German police who at that time were investigating a German national believed to have paid Filipino traffickers to transmit child sexual abuse materials over the internet.
Lawyer and IJM Manila Director Reynaldo said, “The Philippine government has declared a determined stance against online sexual exploitation of children. This heinous transnational crime is inexcusable and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Our team at IJM is fully committed to supporting the Philippine government and global law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served, and our children are protected.”
Online sexual exploitation of children, including trafficking for the purpose of creating child sexual exploitation material, is a growing, borderless crime. In these crimes, sex offenders communicate online with traffickers (often family members or close relatives of victims), paying and directing them to livestream the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
To date, IJM has supported Philippine authorities in the conviction of more than 180 people for offenses related to the online sexual exploitation of children. IJM has also supported more than 320 operations, resulting in the rescue of over 1,080 victims.
To report information about online child sexual exploitation, contact WCPC at 0966-725-5961 (Globe) and 0919-777-7377 (Smart). ###
Note to Editors:
• Under Philippine laws, the name and personal circumstances of the trafficked person or any other information tending
to establish the identity of the trafficked person and his or her family shall not be disclosed to the public.
• The Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, also known as the Luxembourg Guidelines, prescribes the use of the term “child sexual abuse material” or “child sexual exploitation material” instead of “child pornography”. Sexualized material that depicts or otherwise represents children is a representation, and a form, of child sexual abuse and should not be described as “pornography.”

Trafficker gets life sentence for child sexual exploitation

LEYTE, PHILIPPINES – A female trafficker received two life sentences for sexually abusing minors, including her own daughter, in exchange for money from online sex offenders.


LEYTE, PHILIPPINES – A female trafficker received two life sentences for sexually abusing minors, including her own daughter, in exchange for money from online sex offenders.
On February 22, 2023, the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 in the municipality of Abuyog, Leyte found the trafficker (name withheld to protect the identity of her daughter) guilty of qualified trafficking, child abuse, and subjecting minors to online sexual exploitation.
“The conviction achieved by Prosecutor Junery Bagunas in this case was a big win for child protection. No child had to be put on the witness stand and be re-traumatized. Instead, the prosecution maximized the available digital evidence and tapped international collaboration to prove its case. This outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of child-protective approaches in prosecuting online child sexual exploitation cases,” said Regional Prosecutor Irwin Maraya.
The trafficker was given a life sentence for qualified trafficking and another life sentence for child abuse. She was also sentenced to a maximum of 17 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors online. The court ordered her to pay a total fine of P4.5 million for all three offenses.
Lawyer and IJM Cebu Director Lucille Dejito hailed the conviction as a huge win for global collaboration, as it stemmed from the arrest of Philip Chicoine, a Canadian offender who paid the Filipino trafficker to live stream the abuse of minors. One of the witnesses during the trial, Jay Schooley from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), authenticated the referral letter that RCMP sent to the Philippine National Police (PNP). This referral led to the investigation and eventual arrest of the Filipino trafficker in 2017. Another member of the RCMP, Corporal Jared Clarke, also testified that messages and explicit images were exchanged between Chicoine and the Filipino trafficker.
Dejito said, “This conviction is a significant milestone in the global fight against online sexual exploitation of children. It is a testament to the critical role of cross-border collaboration to timely rescue victims and bring perpetrators to justice. As a borderless crime, we must continue to seek borderless solutions.”
“Online child sexual exploitation is a borderless crime. It impacts all countries and targets our most vulnerable – our children,” said RCMP Chief Superintendent Gord Sage, Director General, Sensitive and Specialized Investigative Services. “This case demonstrates the importance of law enforcement working together on a global scale. The collaboration between the RCMP and Philippine National Police - Women and Children Protection Center (Visayas Field Unit) helped result in the conviction of this offender. The RCMP and its partners around the world work to safeguard children from online child sexual exploitation. Child protection efforts are strengthened when we all work together.”
Chicoine was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison (later increased to 15 years) in 2017 for orchestrating and paying for the live streaming of child sexual abuse. He pled guilty to 40 sexual offenses committed against children and was found to be in possession of more than 10,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse. He had spent more than $20,000 arranging for the live streaming of child sexual abuse of victims in the Philippines and Romania.
Meanwhile, members of the PNP Women and Children Protection Center-Visayas Field Unit (WCPC-VFU) arrested the Filipino trafficker on November 10, 2017. They caught her in the act of offering to perform sex acts on her own 7-year-old daughter and livestream those sex acts from
her home in MacArthur, Leyte. Her daughter was rescued during the operation, along with eight other children.
The trafficker was then charged with violations of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
To date, IJM has supported Philippine authorities in the conviction of more than 180 perpetrators for offenses related to the online sexual exploitation of children. IJM has also supported more than 320 operations, leading to the rescue of more than 1,080 victims. ###
Notes to Editors:
• Under Philippine laws, the name and personal circumstances of the trafficked person or any other information tending
to establish the identity of the trafficked person and his or her family shall not be disclosed to the public.
• The Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, also known as the Luxembourg Guidelines, prescribes the use of the term “child sexual abuse material” or “child sexual exploitation material” instead of “child pornography”. Sexualized material that depicts or otherwise represents children is a representation, and a form, of child sexual abuse and should not be described as “pornography.”


Leyte court sentences online sex trafficker to life in prison

BISLIG CITY, SURIGAO DEL SUR – Five women who sexually abused and exploited children to make money online have been sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison. They pleaded guilty to attempted trafficking nearly three years after their arrest in local operations that stemmed from a referral by Australian authorities.

BISLIG CITY, SURIGAO DEL SUR – Five women who sexually abused and exploited children to make money online have been sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison. They pleaded guilty to attempted trafficking nearly three years after their arrest in local operations that stemmed from a referral by Australian authorities.
The Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Bislig City issued its orders dated Feb. 21, 2023, after the five traffickers (names withheld to protect the identity of the victims) entered into plea agreements.
“These convictions are a powerful example of what international collaboration can achieve in holding perpetrators accountable for abusing and exploiting children. My hope is for these convictions to deter criminals and prevent the abuse and exploitation of children from ever happening in the first place. Prevention is vital in the fight against human trafficking,” said Prosecutor Clementino Rabor, Head of DOJ Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Force XIII, Caraga.
Lawyer and IJM Cebu Director Lucille Dejito said, “Plea bargaining can be a powerful child protective prosecution strategy that mitigates the risk of retraumatizing young victims who have already suffered so much. By sparing them the ordeal of testifying in court, we can help ensure that justice is served without potentially triggering the trauma of survivors on the stand. IJM commends public prosecutors who have timely leveraged plea bargaining from a position of strength to protect survivors while still holding perpetrators accountable with significant penalties.”
On August 20, 2020, local authorities arrested the traffickers in Bislig City following a referral by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC). The case referred involved an Australian national who was arrested for paying Filipino traffickers to produce and transmit child sexual abuse materials. An Australian court sentenced him to more than 15 years in prison in August 2022.
The operations in Bislig City also led to the rescue of 15 victims, 13 of whom were minors. Among them were children of some of the traffickers.
The operations were carried out jointly by the Women and Children Protection Center - Anti Trafficking in Persons Division (WCPC-ATIPD) and WCPC Mindanao Field Unit, alongside the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Units (RACU) 10, 11 and 13, and the Bislig City Police Station (BCPS).
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 13, City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) of Bislig, Department of Justice Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Force 13, and International Justice Mission (IJM) also provided support for the operations.
To date, IJM has supported Philippine authorities in the conviction of more than 180 perpetrators for offenses related to the online sexual exploitation of children. IJM has also supported more than 320 operations, resulting in the rescue of over 1,080 victims.
 Launched on February 27, 2019, the PICACC is a coordinating body between local and
international law enforcement. Principally led by the Philippine National Police’s Women and
Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) and the National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-
Human-Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD), PICACC is supported by the Australian Federal
Police (AFP), the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (UK NCA), the National Police of the
Netherlands (Politie) and non-government organization, International Justice Mission (IJM).
To report information about online child sexual exploitation, contact WCPC at 0966-725-5961 (Globe) or 0919-777-7377 (Smart).
Notes to Editors:
• Under Philippine laws, the name and personal circumstances of the trafficked person or any other information tending
to establish the identity of the trafficked person and his or her family shall not be disclosed to the public.
• The Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, also known as the Luxembourg Guidelines, prescribes the use of the term “child sexual abuse material” or “child sexual exploitation material” instead of “child pornography”. Sexualized material that depicts or otherwise represents children is a representation, and a form, of child sexual abuse and should not be described as “pornography.”


5 traffickers face up to 15 years in prison for child exploitation online

LUZON, PHILIPPINES – In a landmark month for the fight against online sexual exploitation of children, four persons were convicted in January 2023, including two female traffickers who were sentenced to life imprisonment.

4 persons convicted in Pateros and Cavite for online sexual exploitation of children

ILIGAN CITY, PHILIPPINES – Two traffickers who sexually abused children for profit online were each sentenced to serve up to 35 years in prison and pay over P1 million in fines and damages. The Iligan City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 handed down its decisions after both men entered into plea agreements. They pleaded guilty in February 2023, but one of them had a prior conviction in November 2021, also through a plea agreement.

ILIGAN CITY, PHILIPPINES – Two traffickers who sexually abused children for profit online were each sentenced to serve up to 35 years in prison and pay over P1 million in fines and damages. The Iligan City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 handed down its decisions after both men entered into plea agreements. They pleaded guilty in February 2023, but one of them had a prior conviction in November 2021, also through a plea agreement.
“The convictions are welcome news. It should serve as a reminder to the perpetrators and people who violate our laws protecting our women and children, that the government is serious in making the perpetrators answer for their offenses,” said Deputy Regional Prosecutor Karl Salcedo.
Both men were sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted trafficking under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. One of them faces additional imprisonment of up to 20 years for violating the newly passed Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act of 2022. The court also issued a Stay Away Order, prohibiting both men from being within 50 meters of their victims.
Prior to the latest conviction, Manuel (real name withheld to protect his victims’ identities) pleaded guilty to attempted trafficking on November 18, 2021. He was ordered to serve 15 years in prison and pay a P500,000 fine. In addition, he received a maximum combined prison sentence of up to 6 years after pleading guilty to offenses under the Anti-Child Pornography Act and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
On February 9, 2023, Manuel received an additional penalty of up to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to using trafficked persons under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, as well as the willful access of child sexual abuse and exploitation material under the Anti-Child Pornography Act. Combined with his prior conviction in 2021, Manuel was ordered to pay a total of P1,050,000 in fines and P500,000 in damages to complainants.
Meanwhile, Sergio (real name withheld to protect his victims’ identities) pleaded guilty to one count of attempted trafficking and two counts of willfully accessing any form of child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM). In addition to his combined maximum sentence of 35 years, he was ordered to pay P900,000 in total fines and P400,000 in total damages to complainants.
Sergio was arrested on November 16, 2022, by members of the Women and Children Protection Center Mindanao Field Unit (WCPC-MFU) who executed a warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data. The operation also led to the rescue of two siblings who were related to him.
Lawyer and IJM Cebu Field Office Director Lucille Dejito said of the convictions: “These strong convictions reinforce the message of deterrence in the community. The public justice system is working to hold these perpetrators accountable. We are also encouraged to see that the local government of Iligan City has done a remarkable work in leading the fight to combat online sexual exploitation of children in
their own locality by investing in trainings and directing resources to strengthen their infrastructure to respond to these cases.”
Salcedo added: “This is also a testament to the effectiveness of the collaborative work between the government and non-government organizations, particularly International Justice Mission, here in Region 10. IJM’s work is laudable, as they have taken an active role in the fight against TIP and OSAEC, particularly in Region 10. Prosecutor Jasmine Diaz, who handled the case, is a firm believer of the plea- bargaining strategy, for good reason, as the same is resorted to for the best interest of the child victim. This strengthens even more our desire at the Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Force 10, through the leadership of Regional Prosecutor Merlynn Uy, to engage in more collaborative work in fighting TIP and OSAEC. Our collaboration with IJM should serve as a blueprint to future partnerships with NGO’s who have common interests in advocating against TIP and OSAEC."
To date, IJM has supported Philippine authorities in the conviction of more than 170 people for offenses related to the online sexual exploitation of children. IJM has also supported more than 300 operations, leading to the rescue of more than 1,000 victims. ###

2 men to spend decades in prison for online sexual exploitation of children


ILIGAN CITY, PHILIPPINES – A court in Iligan City sentenced two men to over 10 years in prison after they pleaded guilty to offenses related to the online sexual exploitation and abuse of children. Iligan City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 handed down the decisions on Feb. 9, 2023, after both men entered into plea agreements.

ILIGAN CITY, PHILIPPINES – A court in Iligan City sentenced two men to over 10 years in prison after they pleaded guilty to offenses related to the online sexual exploitation and abuse of children. Iligan City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 handed down the decisions on Feb. 9, 2023, after both men entered into plea agreements.
One of the accused was already convicted in 2021 for attempted trafficking, among others, which carries a penalty of fifteen years imprisonment and was serving his sentence for this first conviction. This month, he pleaded guilty to one count of use of trafficked persons and two counts of willfully accessing child sexual exploitative materials. He was ordered to serve up to 14 years, 4 months and 3 days in prison and pay a total of P450,000 in fines and P300,000 in civil indemnity.
The other accused also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted trafficking which carries a straight penalty of 15 years imprisonment, a fine amounting to P500,000, and civil indemnity amounting to P100,000 to be paid to each complainant. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of online sexual abuse and exploitation which carries a penalty of up to 10 years, a fine of P200,00, and civil indemnity amounting to Php100,000 for each complainant.
This second conviction originated from a November 16,2022 operation by the Women and Children Protection Center Mindanao Field Unit (WCPC-MFU) in which local law enforcers implemented a warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD). The operation also resulted in the arrest of the suspect and the rescue of two siblings who are both related to the suspect.
In these two convictions the court granted a Stay Away Order that prohibited the suspects from staying within a 50-meter radius of their victims upon their release from detention after service of sentence.
International Justice Mission (IJM), a non-government organization supporting the Philippine government against the online sexual exploitation of children, collaborated with public prosecutors in this case.
In reaction to the conviction, Deputy Regional Prosecutor, Karl Salcedo had this to say:
"The convictions are welcome news. It should serve as a reminder to the perpetrators and people who violate our laws protecting our women and children, that the government is serious in making the perpetrators answer for their offenses. This is also a testament to the effectiveness of the collaborative work between the government and non-government organizations, particularly the International Justice Mission here in region 10....continued”
“The IJM’s work is laudable, as they have taken an active role in the fight against TIP and OSAEC, particularly in region 10. Prosecutor Jasmine Diaz, who handled the case, is a firm believer of the plea- bargaining strategy, for good reason, as the same is resorted to for the best interest of the child victim. This strengthens even more, the Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Force 10, through the leadership of Regional Prosecutor Merlynn Uy, our desire to engage in more collaborative work in fighting TIP and OSAEC. Our collaboration with IJM should serve as a blueprint to future partnerships with NGO’s who have common interests in advocating against TIP and OSAEC."
Atty Lucille Dejito, IJM Cebu Director further adds to his statement by saying that: “Plea bargaining once again has proven to be an effective strategy in obtaining justice for the survivors of online sexual exploitation and still hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes. It is worth highlighting that aside from the prison sentence and hefty fines ordered by the court, the ‘Stay Away Order’ is also a big step forward in ensuring additional protection measures are taken for the survivors as they continue their journey towards restoration.”