BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Three courts in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija convicted a man who was arrested by authorities in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in September last year for trafficking minors and selling child sexual abuse material on Telegram. A concerned citizen reported Teddy Jay Mejia’s crimes through one of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Facebook channels, leading to an investigation and his eventual arrest.

“The police will not stand idly by as traffickers exploit and abuse innocent children. Every credible report we receive is acted upon swiftly. This conviction proves the power of a single report in bringing criminals to justice,” said Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad, Chief of the Philippine National Police – Women and Children Protection Center.

Acting on a report shared via a PNP Facebook channel in May 2023, authorities quickly investigated the trafficker and confirmed that he lured minors into sending explicit photos of themselves in exchange for money, only to use these images to blackmail them into sending more—even threatening to harm their families. He then distributed these materials online to paying customers. Beyond online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), he also trafficked some of his victims for in-person abuse.

Mejia, who was in Dubai when the police investigation began, victimized more than 100 individuals across the country, according to authorities. Despite being overseas, he was not beyond the reach of justice.

“We have well-trained and dedicated law enforcers committed to tracking down these perpetrators. Anyone who thinks they can evade justice is mistaken—they will find themselves in jail sooner than they expect,” Gen. Manalad added.

Mejia faced at least 11 charges of human trafficking and 15 charges for violation of the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act, separately filed before different courts, including Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 29 and RTC Branch 37 in Nueva Vizcaya, and RTC Branch 88 in Nueva Ecija.

Between February 17 and March 17, 2025, he was convicted by different courts after he pleaded guilty to lesser offenses, resulting in a total sentence of over 400 years. Mejia was also ordered to pay more than P10 million in fines and damages. Some of Mejia’s customers were also convicted by the court for the exploitation they perpetrated by availing of Mejia’s services.

Regional Prosecutor Rommel Baligod of the Office of the Regional Prosecutor, Region 2, said: “The conviction of Teddy Mejia demonstrates the eagerness and determination of the government to combat this monstrous crime of human trafficking and OSAEC. The collaborative work of the law enforcers, prosecutors and other agencies of the government, from the process of detection, the rescue of the victims up to the prosecution of the cases, highlights the sincere and resolute efforts to bring the perpetrators of human trafficking and online sexual abuse of children to justice. This conviction shows that those who commit online sexual abuse of children cannot outrun the long arms of the law no matter how complex their modus operandi would be. With the help of the community and with our unified and determined efforts, online sexual abusers of children have nowhere to hide.”

OSAEC crimes are charged under Republic Act (R.A.) 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Act (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse of Exploitation Materials Act (CSAEM) Act; R.A. 9208, as amended by R.A. 10364 and R.A. 11862, known as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022; and R.A. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

OSAEC often involves the trafficking of children to produce child sexual exploitation material, including livestreamed abuse, for profit. It is often perpetrated by family members or trusted individuals in contact with remote sex offenders abroad.

Unlike other forms of trafficking, OSAEC often occurs inside the victim’s home, making detection more challenging and requiring proactive law enforcement and community vigilance. In some communities, people refer to these illegal activities as “live show”. A 2022 prevalence study by International Justice Mission (IJM) and the University of Nottingham Rights Lab estimated that nearly half a million Filipino children—approximately 1 in 100—were trafficked to produce child sexual exploitation materials for profit.

“Law enforcers are working tirelessly to bring offenders to justice, but combating child trafficking requires a collective effort. Every individual has a role to play—by staying vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity to authorities, we can help protect vulnerable children and hold perpetrators accountable,” said Atty. Samson Inocencio, National Director of IJM Philippines.

“This latest conviction stemmed from a report by a concerned citizen, demonstrating the power of community action. Proactive reporting is crucial to ensuring the timely rescue of victims and deterring traffickers and child abusers,” he added.

Prosecutor Baligod echoed this sentiment, saying: “This victory gives justice to the hapless victims whose vulnerabilities were taken advantage of by the culprits. It gives the public a renewed sense of security, knowing that those who prey on children are made accountable for their atrocities. More importantly, this conviction would boost the courage of the community and victims of similar crimes to come forward and help bring the perpetrators to justice, knowing that the full force of the law and of the government will be applied to go after those who commit these heinous crimes.”

To report information about possible OSAEC crimes, contact the Philippine National Police – Women and Children Protection Center at 0966-725-5961 (Globe) and 0919-777-7377.

*All Photos from IJM