Charges filed against mother who used daughter to make cyber-porn

cyber-porn
One of the victims is led away following the raid on Wednesday. Picture courtesy of the International Justice Mission

Three cases will be filed against a Cebu mother who is accused of sexually exploiting her own daughter to record cyber-porn.

As we reported on Wednesday, the mother was arrested for sexually exploiting her 15-year-old daughter and several other underage girls in exchange for money from online ‘clients’.

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John Tanagho, field director of the International Justice Mission (IJM), which assisted in the raid, said the suspect charged up to 3,000 pesos for each cyber-porn video. The woman, who is said to be in her late thirties, has not been identified to protect the anonymity of her victims. 

She is now facing charges under Republic Act 9777 ( Anti-Child Pornography Law), RA 7610 (Protection for Children Against Abuse, exploitation, and Discrimination) and RA 6955 (Anti-Human Trafficking Law).

Superintendent Romeo Perigo, chief of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Center, said the children were now in the care of the Department of Social Welfare Development.

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He also said the woman operated alone and must have had previous experience of operating a cyber-porn operation.

He added that the woman started the abuse her children in April and had been under surveillance for about a month.

The suspect has denied all of the accusations against her.

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Snr. Supt. Perigo warned those who may attempt to engage in online sexual exploitation that stiff penalties are attached to it.

“I would like to emphasise that our law carries heavy penalties for this crime. Second, it is non-bailable offence. I would like to tell these facilitators to stop live pornography, as once they are caught, they will not be released, and they will be imprisoned,” he said.

Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale has congratulated the police and IJM on the successful operation.

She also urged schools to educate parents about cyber-pornography as a means to strengthen their value systems and deter more acts of child exploitation.