A woman and her sister were arrested on suspicion of engaging in online sexual abuse and exploitation of children during an operation that led to the rescue of 10 minors in Concepcion, Tarlac, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Monday, June 16.
The NBI turned over the 10 children to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The arrested siblings, whose names were withheld, were presented before the media by NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago. They were apprehended by operatives of the NBI’s Violence Against Women and Children Division (NBI-VAWCD) during the service of a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD).
Santiago said that of the rescued children, seven were boys and three girls, with ages ranging from three months to 16 years old.
He appealed to parents to protect their children against online sexual abuse, emphasizing that child exploitation is not a solution to poverty.
NBI-VAWCD Chief Yehlen C. Agus said the June 10 operation was part of the follow-up operation of the April 2 arrest of Swedish national Heinz Henry Andreas Berglund in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Berglund was arrested by the NBI based on the red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in connection with the arrest warrant from Sweden over the rape of a 10-year-old girl in 2021.
Before travelling to the Philippines, Agus disclosed that Berglund had been paying the two sisters for child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM) ranging from P200 to P4,000.
The NBI was informed that Berglund travelled to the Philippines to exploit children and the two arrested Filipino women were his accomplices.
Fortunately, Agus said the NBI was able to prevent further illegal acts with the arrest of the two sisters. (Jeffrey Damicog)
