logo
NBI rescues 6 minors from sexual exploitation in CamSur

NBI rescues 6 minors from sexual exploitation in CamSur

GMA Network28-05-2025
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) rescued six minors who were victims of sexual abuse and exploitation in Bombon, Camarines Sur.
The NBI said it conducted the operation after the US Homeland Security Investigations team in Manila reported that a Filipino was peddling child sexual abuse materials (CSAEM) online in exchange for cash.
Further, the subject was allegedly offering live shows of minor children.
Following this, the NBI Violence Against Women and Children Division and the NBI Naga District Office conducted an entrapment operation at the subject's residence, leading to his arrest on May 27.
The NBI then examined the cellphones retrieved from the operation.
Agents found that four of the minors appeared in the photographs sold by the subject.
The individual was then presented for inquest proceedings for violation of Section 4(c) of Republic Act 11930, otherwise known as the "Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act," in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175, otherwise known as the "Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012." — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ex-Palawan gov Reyes guilty of Malampaya fund mess —Sandiganbayan
Ex-Palawan gov Reyes guilty of Malampaya fund mess —Sandiganbayan

GMA Network

time2 hours ago

  • GMA Network

Ex-Palawan gov Reyes guilty of Malampaya fund mess —Sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan has found former Palawan governor Mario Joel Reyes and his provincial planning and development coordinator Samuel Madamba II guilty of 11 counts of graft in connection with misuse of some P1.53 billion in royalties from the Malampaya gas field in 2009. In a 625-page decision, the anti-graft court sentenced Reyes and Madamba to six to 10 years in prison per graft conviction or a total of at least 66 years of jail time. The P1.53 billion worth of Malampaya gas field royalties were allegedly spent on school buildings, the San Vicente Airport Development Project, road projects, solar home system, and a day care center. "There is manifest partiality when accused Reyes, as HoPE (Head of Procuring Entity), improperly evaluated the bid proposals, leading to the award of numerous or overlapping contracts to a single contractor with one set of key personnel," the anti-graft court said. "Accused Reyes approved contracts that awarded multiple projects to a single contractor while being fully aware that these projects required the contractor's presence at specific times that conflicted with other projects. This act indicates a clear, notorious, or plain inclination or predilection to favor one side or one person rather than another, which the Anti-Graft Law categorizes and punishes as manifest partiality," it added. Based on documentary evidence presented before them, including the contracts awarded to the same contractor for overlapping projects and the Commission on Audit report, the Sandiganbayan ruled that there was "a clear violation of contractual obligations." "For one, it is logically impossible for the same key personnel to be involved in all these projects at once, given their different locations which are far apart from each other. Although the towns and areas belong to only one province (Palawan), the Court takes judicial notice that these towns are not really geographically located in one single island," it said. "Additionally, the contractors failed to update or submit revised lists of key personnel for the overlapping projects," the anti-graft court said. The Sandiganbayan also said that Reyes and Madamba, who was then BAC secretary, failed to publicly post the bidding for the subject government contracts due to "neglect and utter lack of effort." While Reyes posted bail in these cases, the court said the ex-Palawan governor failed to appear or present any evidence to dispute the evidence presented by the prosecution. "His (Reyes) failure to be present and adduce evidence could indeed be considered as a waiver of his constitutional right to defend himself and confront the witnesses against him," the Sandiganbayan said. Madamba, for his part, defended himself by arguing that he only failed to properly register the invitation to bid on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) because of a former contractual employee's failure to provide a password and to the poor internet connection in Palawan before 2010. The Sandiganbayan, however, says this defense rings hollow absent evidence. "Not a shred of evidence was offered to prove these allegations. Thus, the basic rule applies that, a mere allegation is not evidence and is not equivalent to proof," it said. "Besides, there were available alternative options provided by the Government Procurement Policy Board to ensure mandatory posting, such as contacting the PhilGEPS division for assistance, fax the documents for posting, or utilizing internet cafes. This noncompliance with these posting requirements led to limited participation in the bidding process, as evidenced by the COA Audit Report which showed only one bidder for 65 projects and two bidders for 139 projects," it added. —AOL, GMA Integrated News

DMW signs MOA with IBP, Tiktok to further efforts on OFW welfare
DMW signs MOA with IBP, Tiktok to further efforts on OFW welfare

GMA Network

time11 hours ago

  • GMA Network

DMW signs MOA with IBP, Tiktok to further efforts on OFW welfare

IBP President and Chair Attorney Allan Panolong and DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac shakes hands after signing a Memorandum of Agreement for the protection of overseas Filipino workers. Photo from Jiselle Anne Casucian, GMA Integrated News The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and Tiktok Philippines to provide legal assistance and a platform for easy access to information for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). During the signing, DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara noted that many OFWs were in need of protection from various forms of abuse. 'We thank [the IBP] for an agreement that ensures access to the legal assistance and justice for the OFWs who may be vulnerable to trafficking, abuse, or labor violations. We thank IBP for standing with us to ensure that no OFW face legal paths alone,' he said. DMW Undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services Bernard Olalia had shared that they handled more than 300 illegal recruitment cases so far in 2025, along with 27 human trafficking cases and 18 closure orders. 'What is important is whether it's online scam or non-online scam, our direction is to get through the process by rendering justice to our OFWs and being there to make sure na yung mga OFWs will be provided with all the assistance they need,' he said. IBP President and Chair Attorney Allan Panolong said their lawyers are willing to serve without charge, and that they were ready to assist as defenders of human rights. 'Every legal service provided is a step work, building society that is in favor, more implacable and more caring. What upholds the dignity of every Filipino. Through this collaboration, we embody the true spirit of service to the nation. We cannot say our efforts are complete if there are fellow Filipinos crying out for justice,' he said. Agreements between the DMW and IBP included public awareness efforts on rights of OFWs, joint discussions on migrant worker protection, studies on human rights issues affecting OFW, individual case referrals to appropriate legal intervention, joint response operations to violation cases, and free legal aid and rights education. 'We're fighting crime, we're fighting the wrongdoers, we're fighting those who prosecute or do harm to our OFWs. We're fighting for our OFWs who need protection, who need the legal arm of the law… It's really not just helping them file cases,' said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac. 'We really need to help [OFWs] be guided by all these relevant law, laws that are very important to them,' he added. Meanwhile, the partnership between DMW and TikTok Philippines made way for intricate and further information efforts to combat illegal job recruitment, among others. The partnership between the two entities involve filtering of accounts with illegal recruitment or trafficking activities, joint awareness campaigns, promotion of verified accounts as trusted sources, training for identification of illegal recruitment and trafficking schemes, and further policy discussions on online safety and OFW protection. Tiktok Philippines also shared that they are working on a special leg of their #ThinkTwice campaign with the DMW, placing a primary focus on identifying and avoiding online job scams. 'Ensuring a safe space also means empowering our users to be more responsible over the content they consume, create, and share… We are honored to partner with the Department of Migrant Workers because our commitment is something that they share. The protection of all Filipino users, especially OFWs on our platform,' said Tiktok Philippines Public Policy Manager Peachy Paderna. 'Our goal is to safeguard and empower Filipinos with the tools to think critically online, recognize this information, and stay protected from online recruitment scams and other digital risks. We are actively and closely working with the DMW. We hope to keep overseas job seekers informed, empowered, and safe so they can focus on building a better life for their loved ones,' she added. Cacdac noted that the partnership with TIktok fell in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 's marching orders to enhance OFW welfare, protection, and empowerment. 'The message can be so simple as to finding illegal recruitment, maging matalino, wag magpaloko… All these things can be a venue for delivering so many simple messages, so many videos that we can all create together, and Tiktok is a powerful messenger for that,' he said. The DMW Secretary also shared that in signing both the TikTok and IBP agreements, the agency was able to show that there was a 'strategic complimentary approach' to protecting Filipino migrant workers. 'They remind us that no single solution exists to end trafficking. What we need is a whole of society approach, where law, media, government, private sector, and civil society emerge to uphold the rights of Filipinos and this is very well-reflected in the leadership and approach under the Bagong Pilipinas approach of our dear President,' Cacdac said. 'The Department of Migrant Workers, we carry the mandate not only to deploy but to defend not only to facilitate opportunities but fortify protections… and we cannot do it alone. Together, let us build a world where every Filipino who dreams of working abroad can do so with dignity, with protection, and with pride,' he continued. — BAP, GMA Integrated News

Owner of Huthi-sunk ship calls on rebels to release crew — statement
Owner of Huthi-sunk ship calls on rebels to release crew — statement

GMA Network

time2 days ago

  • GMA Network

Owner of Huthi-sunk ship calls on rebels to release crew — statement

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The owner of the Eternity C, a ship attacked by Yemen's Huthis, urged the rebels to release its crew members on Tuesday, a day after the group released footage of the mariners they claimed to have rescued. Earlier this month, the Huthis sank the Magic Seas and Eternity C cargo ships in separate Red Sea attacks, ending a months-long hiatus in their campaign against maritime traffic they accuse of links to Israel, begun over the Gaza war. On Monday, the rebels released footage of the missing mariners and said in a statement that they had rescued 11 crew members, including two who were injured, and recovered a body from aboard the ship before it sank. "We call on all parties to assist in reuniting the 11 individuals with their loved ones and hope that the Huthis will release our crew at the earliest opportunity," Cosmoship, which owns Eternity C, said in a statement. Following the Eternity C attack, the European Union's Operation Aspides naval task force told AFP that 15 of the 25 people on the ship were still missing -- with four of them presumed dead. Cosmoship expressed relief that "ten of our missing crew members, as well as one of the vessel's security guards (11 in total), are alive and appear to be receiving care", after viewing the video. "Our utmost priority remains the safety and well-being of these individuals. We continue to work through every available channel to support their continued care and to facilitate their safe and swift return home to their families," it added. Earlier Tuesday, the Philippines said it would ask "friendly countries" to help secure the release of nine Filipino sailors held by the Huthis. In January, the Yemeni rebels released the mostly Filipino crew of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship, whom they had detained for more than a year, during a ceasefire in Gaza. — Agence France-Presse

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store