Trafficker sentenced to life imprisonment

A 27-year-old trafficker will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of offering to livestream the sexual abuse of two minors in exchange for money.

Aside from life imprisonment, a court in Malolos City, Bulacan also imposed a P2-million fine and ordered him to pay the victims P1 million in moral damages — delivering a powerful message that those who exploit children will face the full force of the law.

On 10 February 2025, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 18 of Malolos City convicted the perpetrator — a neighbor and family friend of the victims — on two counts of Qualified Trafficking in Persons.

This conviction marks another victory in the fight against child exploitation, particularly against traffickers who profit from what is often misleadingly called a “show” — a crime that inflicts severe abuse. In 2022 alone, almost half a million children were estimated to have been trafficked to create child sexual abuse material.

“Together, we must intensify our efforts to dismantle the networks of human trafficking that target our most vulnerable children,” said Bulacan Senior Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Alejandro G. Ramos. “Our unified commitment to this cause strengthens the protective shield around those who cannot defend themselves. Their freedom is our responsibility. Their safety, our collective victory.”

The Philippine government continues to take strong action against online sexual exploitation and trafficking. In 2022, it strengthened legal protections for victims by enacting the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act, along with the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

During a national summit co-organized by International Justice Mission (IJM) and government partners in September last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared that the government, under his administration, “will spare no effort” in fighting these heinous crimes against children.

Atty. Maranatha Praise D. Ladringan, IJM Prosecution Development Senior lead, who served as a private prosecutor in the Malolos case, stressed the significance of the latest conviction: “This case is a clear reminder of the State’s strong protection for Filipino children, as the law penalizes even the mere offer of children online, for purposes of sexual abuse and exploitation. May this conviction serve as stern warning to those who continue to exploit and sexualize children on the internet.”

This case originated from an investigation into Timothy Lane, an Australian national convicted in his home country after being caught with CSAEM on his mobile phone. Authorities discovered online transactions between Lane and individuals in the Philippines, including the 27-year-old trafficker, who used a fake female identity on Facebook to arrange payments for live-streamed abuse of minors. Upon receiving intelligence from the Australian Federal Police, Philippine authorities acted swiftly to identify, investigate, and arrest of the suspect in June 2023.

The trafficking of children to produce child sexual exploitation materials, including livestreamed abuse, remains a widespread and alarming crime in the Philippines. To combat this, IJM supports authorities to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that survivors receive the care they need. IJM also partners with the government to provide specialized training for law enforcement, prosecutors and social workers.