A Zamboanga-based lawyer and certified public accountant was arrested for allegedly violating the anti-trafficking law, alleged sexual abuse of minors, and production of child abuse materials.
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) announced the arrest last Monday of Michael P. Molina in a joint operation conducted by the Department of Justice-Office of Cybercrime, the National Bureau of Investigation-Human Trafficking Division, NBI-Western Mindanao Regional Office, the National Center Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.
Exodus, an NGO working to deter human trafficking and online sexual abuse and exploitation of minors, assisted in the operations.
“Molina was apprehended following an extensive cyber-surveillance and intelligence operation,” IACAT said, adding the team rescued three minors from his premises and identified six additional victims, some of whom are now adults, all believed to have suffered sexual abuse.
The IACAT said seized items, upon initial examination, showed that Molina’s exploitation of children may have started in 2012. In-depth forensic examination of his devices will be performed, as data recovered suggests that his collection and production of child abuse materials may have started as early as 2002.
The rescued minors are now under the care of the local Department of Social Welfare and Development office.
The DOJ is readying charges against Molina for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act and RA 7619 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
With Molina’s arrest, IACAT urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of child exploitation to the DOJ, the NBI, or local law enforcement agencies.
Underreporting hinders the government’s effort to run after those preying on minors, including online sexual abuse and exploitation, DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Sy, who is the officer-in-charge of IACAT, said during the opening and launching of the Safer Internet Day 2025 in February.
Underreporting is one of the major problems when it comes to reporting cases involving child safety and crimes targeting minors.
Sy said the DOJ and IACAT understood the hesitancy of the minor victims and their families to report crimes to the authorities.
“We understand that some of the victims are hesitant about reporting such crimes, maybe because of fear, lack of access to justice or lack of knowledge,” Sy said.
Last year, the DOJ-led IACAT, the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the Prosecutor General signed a memorandum of agreement to create a task force to enhance the effort to fight trafficking in persons, OSAEC and CSAEM.
IACAT has also launched a grassroots-level campaign dubbed “Barangay IACAT 2.0” aimed at empowering, informing and engaging communities to fight trafficking and child abuse and exploitation.
