Manila, Philippines: Six-year-old girl rescued and her mother arrested over ‘horrific’ sexual abuse

A six-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually abused by her mother in videos sold on the dark web has been rescued after Australian police provided a vital clue. 

The little girl was freed from her alleged abusers in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, on Sunday following a seven-month international investigation. 

Footage shows her 37-year-old mother being approached by officers inside a local eatery before she is escorted outside to a waiting car. 

The woman’s boyfriend, 19, was arrested several months earlier after local police searched his Manilla home and seized multiple electronic devices in November. 

Following his arrest, police identified the child allegedly being abused in the videos – but could not immediately establish her location. 

The breakthrough this week came following a joint investigation by Victoria Police, Netherlands Police and Philippine National Police (PNP). 

In early 2022, Victoria Police identified a person sharing the abuse on a dark web forum and notified the Australian Federal Police (AFP). 

The videos didn’t match any material on an international database and was believed to be produced by the same people selling the videos. 

The material was referred to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre with the PNP promptly launching an investigation. 

The international agencies were able to work together to identify the woman’s boyfriend and his location but could not find the child.

Meanwhile, police in Victoria had discovered videos allegedly depicting the same six-year-old victim on another dark web site. 

AFP officers in Manila then supported the PNP during an undercover online operative in which they attempted to engage with the suspected vendor.

The little girl was freed from her alleged abusers on Sunday following a seven-month international investigation based in Manila, the capital of the Philippines

The investigation resulted in a major breakthrough this week. The six-year-old girl is now in the care of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The 37-year-old has been charged with one count of committing acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation with the expectation of further charges. 

The 19-year-old man has been charged with a series of offences including one count of use, persuade, induce, engage or coerce a child to perform or participate in acts contrary to the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Act. 

He has also been charged with producing, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse and exploitation material. 

Police will now examine the seized electronics to try and identify anyone who purchased the child abuse material allegedly sold on the dark web. 

AFP Detective Superintendent Andrew Perkins said there was an increasing demand for child exploitation material from around the world, including Australia. 

‘Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators,’ Supt Perkins said. 

The investigation resulted in a major breakthrough this week with the six-year-old girl now in the care of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development

‘This outcome has highlighted the shared commitment law enforcement agencies have to protect children wherever they live and ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts. 

‘We will do whatever we can to help Philippine authorities identify any child victims and remove them from further harm.’  

PNP Women and Children Protection Centre Police Colonel Portia Manalad said officers were committed to protecting children from ‘violent sexual abuse’. 

‘We are determined to find children who have been subjected to these horrific crimes, make sure they are safe and support them in the future,’ she said. 

‘The trauma they have gone through is more than we can see and hear but we will be their protectors.’