MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The National Coordination Center against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM), in coordination with International Justice Mission (IJM), conducted training for the Cyber Trafficking in Persons Operations Division (CTIPOD) on managing NCMEC CyberTipline Reports on September 21-24, 2026, at the Savoy Hotel in Manila.

The United States National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) gather reports from social media and tech companies about misconduct, including extortion and the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). These reports are then referred to relevant countries. The Philippines received 870,000 NCMEC referrals in 2025 alone. The training aimed result in increase in both the speed and volume of processes reports forwarded to law enforcement, protecting more children than ever, and bringer swift justice to perpetrators.

The Philippines National Police do not have the capacity to investigate every single CyberTipline Report (CTR) coming from NCMEC. Instead, they rely on analysts to do an initial assessment of the tip. CTIPOD members were trained to read CTRs to determine the severity and urgency of the report. Then, they would employ open-source investigative methods to determine the identities of the subject and victim, as well as narrow down the location as much as they can. They pass on all the information they gather to the relevant department of the Philippine National Police, who are able to use all this information to launch a full investigation and rescue operation.

This training is the next evolution in NCC and IJM’s longstanding partnership. With CTIPOD’s commitment, and the hard work of many people like them, we are one step closer to ending OSAEC in the Philippines.

Atty. Samson Inocencio, Country Director, IJM Philippines

Atty. Noel Eballe from IJM and Atty. Barbara Mae P. Flores, Executive Director of the National Coordination Against OSAEC and CSAEM (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM)

Training sessions from IJM's Bill Maddox, Sydney Rees, and Atty. Raena Pabiona

The training included 12 CTIPOD members from all over the Philippines. This allows reports to be analyzed by people in relative proximity to the report location. These analysts will be better equipped to catch local context clues, and better able to form a powerful relationship with the local police units who would further investigate any reports forwarded to them.

The first thing I’ll do is apply what I learned when reviewing CyberTipline Reports. I want to look at the information in each CTR more systematically, connecting seemingly small pieces of open-source information, validating relevant details, and identifying potential leads that can strengthen our assessment of the report. As a reviewing lawyer, I hope to use these skills to make our referrals to law enforcement more focused, timely, and actionable.

Atty. Ceslhee Ann Mabel P. Angeles, Attorney III, Cyber-Trafficking in Persons Operations Division

Atty. Ceslhee Angeles shares her insights

This training represents the next step in IJM’s longstanding relationship with NCC. Both organizations have been working together to strengthen the systems protecting children and increase institutional response to online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). CTIPOD members were trained to conduct open-source investigations, using sophisticated digital investigative tools to analyze the digital footprint of suspects and victims. This information can be crucial in police investigations and subsequent prosecutions.

CTIPOD participants engage in lively discussions and case-based exercises

This training was meaningful to me because it showed me that open-source information, when gathered and analyzed properly, can become a powerful tool in protecting children and supporting investigations. It reminded me that even small pieces of information can help build a clearer picture of a case and, ultimately, contribute to identifying and protecting victims,” Atty. Angeles added.

This training was meaningful to me because it showed me that open-source information, when gathered and analyzed properly, can become a powerful tool in protecting children and supporting investigations. It reminded me that even small pieces of information can help build a clearer picture of a case and, ultimately, contribute to identifying and protecting victims.

Atty Angeles

Nearly half a million Filipino children were the victims of online sexual abuse or exploitation in 2022 alone. This training is a critical step in the mission to combat OSAEC in the Philippines, equipping a new set of people with the tools and knowledge necessary to do their part. And the CTIPOD team are very aware of the role they play in keeping children safe.

I’m hopeful that what we learned from this training will help us see beyond the information contained in every CTR and remember the child behind it. I hope these skills will help us identify more actionable leads, strengthen our referrals, and ultimately help us reach and protect more children. Because behind every report is a child who may be waiting for someone to notice, act, and help.

Atty. Angeles

Congratulations to the CTIPOD participants who successfully completed training