Following the discovery of sexually graphic content on the phone of a guy detained in Sydney by Australian authorities, sixteen reportedly mistreated children in the Philippines have been rescued.
According to a joint statement issued Wednesday by the Australian Federal Police and the Philippine National Police (PNP), the youngsters were discovered last month when the PNP carried out several warrants at four sites in the Metro Manila area and one province in the Northern Philippines.
The Australian Border Force detained a Queensland man, 56, who was travelling back to Sydney from the Philippines in January, starting the inquiry, according to the statement.
After searching his phone, the ABF found child abuse material and messages detailing his intent to pay a facilitator who would enable him to sexually abuse children in the Philippines.
The man was charged with three offenses including grooming and possession of child abuse material, which carry a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
However, the suspect failed to attend a scheduled court appearance on May 30 and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
“This case highlights how vital it is for law enforcement agencies to share intelligence and resources globally, because predators are not confined by borders,” said the AFP’s senior officer in Manila, Detective Superintendent Andrew Perkins.
“However, these children’s lives have been irrecoverably damaged and we know there are too many other children still at risk,” he added.
The children have been placed into the care of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development and investigators are still trying to find other suspected victims.
Police Colonel Portia Manalad, chief of the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center, said the PNP could not tackle this crime alone.
“We must collaborate with our international partners, such as the AFP, to arrest offenders and rescue child victims,” she said.
As of June 29, 611 victims have been rescued from child abuse and 127 facilitators arrested since the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC), a joint effort between the Philippines, Australia, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, was established in 2019.