11 Children Rescued in Major Anti-OSAEC Operation in Davao Oriental on NewsLine Philippines - Building Information Highway for the Community
DAVAO CITY (December 10) — Eleven children (11) including seven minor girls and three children at risk—were rescued in Mati City after the Philippine National Police–Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) launched a series of high-impact operations targeting Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
The coordinated rescue effort, carried out by the WCPC Mindanao Field Unit (MFU) under PCOL Mario M. Baquiran, Jr. and supervised by PBGEN Maria Sheila T. Portento, marks one of the most significant OSAEC crackdowns in Davao Oriental this year. The operations also resulted in the arrest of two adult suspects and the recovery of digital evidence used to exploit children online.
Authorities said the priority was saving the children, some of whom had been repeatedly exploited and coerced into performing online sexual acts for paying predators abroad. Among the rescued was a 17-year-old girl initially implicated in the operations but later placed under protective custody as a Child in Conflict with the Law (CICL)—underscoring how minors are often manipulated into becoming both victims and unwilling participants.
All rescued children were immediately turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO)-Mati for medical assessment, psychological first aid, and long-term case management.
“Every child rescued is a life taken out of harm’s way,” PBGEN Portento said, stressing that OSAEC leaves deep psychological scars that require sustained support and intervention.
“Our mission is not only to arrest offenders but to ensure these children begin their healing with dignity, safety, and hope.”
Victims Recovered, Exploiters Tracked, The simultaneous operations included: Entrapment operations Rescue missions and Service of warrants to search, seize, and examine computer data
Working alongside the Mati City Police, RACU 11, DSWD 11, DOJ-NCC OSAEC-CSAEM, RIACAT11/RACETTF11, and the International Justice Mission (IJM), authorities confiscated mobile devices, internet equipment, and other materials believed to contain illicit content involving minors.
PNP Acting Chief PLTGEN Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. described the operation as a crucial reminder of the scale of OSAEC victimization in the country.
“These rescued children represent countless others who remain unseen. The PNP will not stop until every predator is found and every vulnerable child is protected,” he said.
“This mission goes beyond enforcement—it is about restoring the childhoods stolen by exploitation.”
Community Urged to Report Signs of Online Exploitation
The PNP-WCPC reiterated its call for vigilance, urging the public to report suspicious activities involving minors online.
Reports may be submitted through the WCPC’s official Facebook page, monitored @ wcpc.didmpnp
Who Are the 11 Rescued Children?
What authorities say about the victims in the Mati City OSAEC operation
The eleven children rescued in Mati City represent some of the most vulnerable victims of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). Authorities say they came from varying household situations, but shared the same risk factors: poverty, online access, and the presence of adults who manipulated or coerced them.
Breakdown of the Rescued Victims:
- 7 minor girls
Ages not disclosed for protection. Many were repeatedly exploited through livestream sessions arranged by adults in exchange for money sent by foreign predators. - 1 female victim of legal age
She was exploited as a minor and continued to be involved due to coercion and lack of support. - 3 children at risk
These children were found in environments where exploitation was likely or already occurring, prompting immediate intervention. - 1 Child in Conflict with the Law (CICL), age 17
Initially treated as a suspect, she was later identified as a victim who had been groomed and manipulated by adults. She is now under protective custody for psychosocial intervention.
Common Patterns Among Victims
- Many were tasked to perform sexual acts in front of webcams for paying offenders abroad.
- Several grew up in conditions of financial strain, where adults exploited their vulnerability.
- Some victims believed they were helping their families survive, a pattern often seen in OSAEC cases.
- Most had limited understanding that they were being exploited and that the acts involved criminal networks.
Immediate Care Provided
All rescued children were:
- given medical checkups,
- assessed by psychologists,
- provided temporary shelter, and
- placed on a long-term recovery and reintegration program through the CSWDO.
Why Children Are Targeted
Children become targets of OSAEC due to:
- Economic vulnerability
- Manipulation by adults or relatives
- Perceived anonymity of online platforms
- Foreign demand for livestreamed exploitation
These factors create a cycle of abuse where children—often unaware of the consequences—become trapped in digital exploitation schemes.
Child advocates say the rescued children reflect a bigger, often hidden crisis. For every child found, many more remain unreported—trapped in online exploitation facilitated by relatives, neighbors, or individuals who profit from foreign demand.
The Mati City operation is a reminder that OSAEC is not just a cybercrime but a community problem that destroys childhoods and requires coordinated action to stop.
A Growing Fight Against a Hidden Crime
OSAEC continues to rise in the Philippines, driven by poverty, easy internet access, and foreign demand for livestreamed child sexual abuse. The rescue in Mati City highlights both the vulnerability of children and the increasing sophistication of traffickers operating online.
Law enforcers say that while the battle is far from over, every child rescued is a powerful step toward dismantling OSAEC networks and rebuilding young lives.-Editha Z Caduaya
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11 Children Rescued in Major Anti-OSAEC Operation in Davao Oriental
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