Int’l partners in PH drive vs child traffickers lauded

The successful entrapment of suspected online child traffickers in Eastern Visayas was credited mainly from the support of international authorities.

This was according to International Justice Mission (IJM), a global organization protecting the poor from violence.

“Collaboration between local law enforcement and international law enforcement is crucial in ensuring that the victims of online sexual exploitation receive justice,” said lawyer John Tanagho, field office director of IJM-Cebu City.

He said that no less than a senior investigator from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)-Internet Child Exploitation Division arrived from Canada and proceeded to Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) to testify at the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 in Abuyog, Leyte against a suspected online trafficker, who was arrested in the neighboring town of McArthur late last year.

Tanagho said they are grateful for the support of the RCMP in prosecuting the case which shows their deep commitment and professionalism.

On May 31, 2018, Cpl. Jared Clarke, along with RCMP liaison officer Jay Schooley, arrived in the province “to authenticate the referral letter RCMP sent to the Philippine National Police (PNP).”

“It is an investigation like this which demonstrates the international and border-less nature of ICE (Internet Child Exploitation) investigations. Saskatchewan is not immune to these horrific crimes. Through our international ICE partners, we can bring offenders to justice almost anywhere,” said Staff Sgt. Scott Lambie of the Saskatchewan Integrated Child Exploitation Unit in Saskatchewan province in Canada.

Lambie said Clarke recently traveled to Leyte province to testify at an ICE trial and conduct important child exploitation training locally. Clarke also had the opportunity to meet with rescued victims, which he said “a rare and rewarding experience.”

He also thanked the international partners for the work they continue to do to rescue victims and prosecute offenders.

The referral letter led to a PNP investigation and entrapment operation wherein Lorna (real name was withheld because one of the victims is her daughter) was arrested on Nov. 10, 2017 by the PNP Women and Children Protection Center-Visayas field unit.

The group said Lorna allegedly produced and transmitted sexually explicit images of children to foreigners overseas in exchange for money. She was caught by police in the act of offering to perform sex acts on her own eight-year-old daughter and livestream those acts from her house in McArthur, Leyte.