On February 25, 2025, the Regional Trial Court Branch 1 in Butuan City sentenced the male trafficker to 27 years in prison after convicting him of attempted trafficking, possession of child sexual abuse material, and acts of lasciviousness. He was also fined P500,000.

Earlier, on December 9, 2024, the Regional Trial Court Branch 35 in Ozamiz City sentenced the female trafficker to 22 years in prison for three counts of attempted child trafficking and for acting as an accomplice in human trafficking. She was also fined P500,000.

The trafficking of children to produce child sexual exploitation material, including livestreamed abuse, is a widespread crime in the Philippines. According to IJM’s Scale of Harm prevalence study, nearly 500,000 Filipino children were victims of this crime in 2022 alone.

In some areas, offenders refer to the abuse as a “show” they stage in exchange for money from online sex offenders. City Prosecutor Noel Boter of Ozamiz City emphasized the financially driven nature of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), calling it a crime “laden with greed and despicable moral depravity.”

A crime is a crime regardless of the reason why one does it,

The convictions stemmed from police operations in April and July 2024, which led to the rescue of seven victims and at-risk children.

On April 3, 2024, the Women and Children Protection Center – Mindanao Field Unit (WCPC-MFU) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) rescued three minor boys from OSAEC in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.

Less than two weeks later, on April 16, 2024, WCPC-MFU filed charges against the male trafficker, a Butuan City resident, before the Office of the City Prosecutor. He was charged with violating Republic Act (RA) 9208 (as amended by RA 10364 and RA 11862), RA 8353, and RA 7610. The suspect was later arrested through a warrant of arrest.

On July 24, 2024, WCPC-MFU conducted another rescue operation in Ozamiz City, leading to the arrest of the female trafficker for engaging in OSAEC. The operation resulted in the rescue of two minor victims and two children at risk.

These convictions not only demonstrate the unwavering commitment of the Philippine criminal justice system to bringing offenders to justice but also reassures vulnerable communities that they can trust the system to protect them. We urge the community to report OSAEC cases so we can stop traffickers before they harm more children, said Atty. Samson Inocencio Jr., National Director of IJM Philippines.

IJM works closely with authorities to ensure offenders are held accountable and survivors receive protection and support. To strengthen the justice system’s response to OSAEC and trafficking, IJM also provides specialized training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and social workers.

On September 16, 2024, IJM, in partnership with the Department of Justice - Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), hosted the national summit “Iisang Nasyon, Iisang Aksyon: Tapusin ang OSAEC Ngayon.” The event marked the launch of “Bayang Walang Bahid ng OSAEC,” a nationwide campaign designed to break the culture of silence and empower communities to report child exploitation.