Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla vowed to be relentless in the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) campaign against human traffickers, especially those who prey on minors.
This, as the DOJ filed before the Calamba, Laguna Regional Trial Court (RTC) multiple criminal charges against a pimp who peddled online young boys to foreigners for live sex or explicit photos/videos in exchange for a certain sum of money.
In a 10-page Resolution, the DOJ Task Force on Women and Children and Against Trafficking in Persons (TFWCATIP) found probable cause to indict respondent Jhon Patrick Carmona for Qualified Trafficking in Persons under Republic Act (RA) No. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) as further amended by RA No. 11862 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022).
Acting on a tip from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about the distribution of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) by respondent, the National Bureau of Investigation-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-HTRAD) discovered an X account (formerly Twitter) allegedly used by him to market young boys to foreigners.
Using undercover agents, the NBI-HTRAD was able to establish a series of communications with the respondent which mostly revolved around the latter asking for money in exchange of lewd photos/videos of young boys via messaging application Telegram.
As the familiarity between the undercover agents and respondent grew bigger, the respondent offered to meet-up with the undercover agent he was chatting with where three young boys were offered for sex.
After this, a rescue operation ensued where respondent Carmona was arrested while three young boys were saved.
“We will never stop nor slow down our campaign against human traffickers until every single one of them falls in the hands of justice,” Secretary Remulla stressed.
“The government is determined more than ever to eliminate elements who continue to prey on the vulnerable sector of society-children and women, the most. Let us build a safe and healthy environment where the young are protected,” he added.
“Respondent Carmona committed Trafficking in Persons, since he offered the sexual services of the 3 vulnerable minor victims to the undercover foreigner for a fee,” the Resolution said.
The TFWCATIP headed by Deputy State Prosecutor (DSP) Olivia I. Laroza-Torrevillas and member/inquest prosecutor Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Josie Christina T. Dugay charged Carmona with three (3) counts of Qualified Trafficking under Sec 4(a) in relation to Sec 6(a) (minority of the victims); and one (1) count of Qualified Trafficking under Sec 4(a) in relation to Sec 6(c) in large scale, considering that the crime was committed against three (3) or more persons.
The complaint for violation of RA No. 11930 [Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation for Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM)] was referred for further preliminary investigation.
The Task Force recommended no bail for each of the charges.
