Mexico, Pampanga – Around 156 children were rescued from abuse while an American pastor was arrested at the New Life Baptist Church of Mexico, Pampanga Inc. (NLBCMPI) on 13 August 2025.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the suspect was identified as Pastor Jeremy Ferguson who is facing multiple cases of violating Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

The DSWD and the Philippine National Police conducted the rescue of the 156 children that were inside the said facility. The rescued children were taken to the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) in Lubao, Pampanga.

These 156 children are composed of 78 boys and 78 girls.

The DSWD discovered the unsanitary and degrading situation of the children inside the NLBCMPI wherein the facility’s gate is covered in barbed wire, with tight sleeping conditions, dirty bathrooms, and fire hazards.

The children said that they have experienced physical, verbal, and psychological abuse.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday morning issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) against the New Life Baptist Church of Mexico, Pampanga Inc. that was served on the same day by personnel of the Field Office 3 headed by Regional Director Venus Rebuldela.

The New Life Baptist Church of Mexico, Pampanga, Inc. is also facing charges of mismanagement of funds; improper case management; and non-compliance with the DSWD Registration, License to Operate and Accreditation standards.

“We will be filing criminal cases against Pastor Ferguson based on the complaints of children who have experienced physical, verbal and psychological abuse while under his custody. We will also be requesting the Bureau of Immigration to issue a Hold Departure Order (HDO) on Mr. Ferguson to make sure that he will face his criminal cases in court,” the Secretary said.

Gatchalian noted the gravity of the infractions and issued the CDO against Ferguson’s SWADA “pursuant to the authority, regulatory powers, and responsibility for the exercise of the mandate of the DSWD to assist in the protection of the rights of children from all forms of danger, neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development.”

The CDO is part of DSWD’s authority, regulatory powers and responsibility to assist in the protection of the rights of children from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development.