BACOLOD City – Ten minors allegedly exploited through Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) were rescued in a series of coordinated law enforcement operations conducted from June to July 2026, prompting Bacolod authorities to intensify efforts against the growing crime.
Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga, head of the Bacolod City Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), said the rescue operations were carried out through joint entrapment operations involving the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC), the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD), and the DSSD.
The operations, conducted in various barangays in the city, led to the rescue of one boy and nine girls aged 12 to 17, including two girls recovered in the latest operation.
All rescued children were immediately placed under the protective custody of the DSSD to ensure their safety and well-being, Verdeprado-Mangga said.
She added that the victims have been provided comprehensive post-rescue interventions, including temporary residential care, psychological evaluation and trauma counseling, medical examinations, educational assistance through modular learning materials, family counseling, legal assistance in filing cases, and continued coordination with law enforcement authorities.
Verdeprado-Mangga said the situation has become alarming, noting that Bacolod is now considered one of the hotspots for OSAEC cases.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the rescue of the two girls in the latest operation forms part of the city government’s intensified campaign against online child sexual exploitation.
“This operation builds upon the joint entrapment efforts conducted from June to July 2026 by the BCPO, WCPD, and DSSD, which resulted in the rescue of eight other minors across various barangays,” Gasataya said.
He said the rescued children remain under the care of the DSSD while authorities continue building criminal cases against those responsible for their exploitation.
“The City Government strongly condemns these acts of exploitation and stands firm in its mandate to protect the vulnerable,” the mayor said.
Gasataya noted that the city’s child protection efforts were strengthened in September 2025 through Executive Order No. 44, Series of 2025, which established the 24/7 SAFE Hotline to combat child abuse and gender-based violence.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and immediately report suspected cases of child abuse and exploitation through the city’s emergency hotlines.
“We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected abuse. To those who endanger our children, we will hunt you down, and we will make sure that justice finds its way to you,” Gasataya said.
Authorities said investigations remain ongoing as law enforcement agencies continue identifying and pursuing individuals involved in the online sexual exploitation of children.
The city government assured the public that protecting child victims, strengthening support services, and bringing offenders to justice remain among its top priorities./PN
