A man was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing four minors in South Cotabato, the Philippine National Police Women and Children’s Protection Center (PNP WCPC) said Tuesday.
The arrest came after a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children prompted the police to search the suspect’s home in Banga town last Friday, the WCPC said in a statement.
‘The authorities seized the suspect’s device, where a forensic examination revealed multiple files containing CSAEM (child sexual abuse and exploitation materials),’ the police explained.
The WCPC did not name the arrested suspect but, in a message to the Inquirer, described him as a 25-year-old South Cotabato resident.
Four male minors were also supposedly found in the suspect’s home and turned over to the Banga town social welfare and development office, the police added, without saying how the victims were taken to the residence.
The suspect was taken into custody of the local police and is facing charges for violation of Republic Act No. 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and the Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act.