Lawyer arrested over sexual exploitation of minors
MANILA, Philippines — A lawyer in Zamboanga City was arrested on March 26 after an extensive cybersurveillance and intelligence operation over his alleged involvement in the online sexual exploitation of children, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) said on Monday.
Michael Molina, a certified public accountant, lawyer, and realtor, was taken to the National Bureau of Investigation Western Mindanao Regional Office detention facility.
Three minors were rescued in a joint operation conducted by the Iacat, NBI, and Department of Justice, along with the National Coordinating Center on Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children.
READ: 3 minors rescued from online sexual exploitation, trafficking in Iligan City
They were supported by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and assisted by nongovernmental organization Exodus Philippines.
Authorities also identified six additional victims, some of them now adults, who are believed to have suffered sexual abuse.
An initial investigation of the items seized from Molina shows that he may have started exploiting children in 2012, although data recovered from his devices suggested his collection and production of child abuse materials could have begun as early as 2002. —Jane Bautista
