‘Mahalin niyo po ‘yung anak niyo’: 14-year-old writes letter after rescue from sexual abuse

MANILA — “Gusto ko pong sabihin sa mga magulang na huwag niyo pong gayahin ‘yung ginawa ng mga magulang ko. Mahalin niyo po ‘yung anak niyo.”

(I want to tell other parents not to do what my parents did. Please love your children.)

This was the heartfelt plea of a 14-year-old victim-survivor of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in a letter to the public after she was rescued by authorities in Cainta, Rizal on Tuesday.

In her letter, the teenager urged others not to allow themselves to be abused and to protect themselves from harm.

“Protektahan niyo po ‘yung sarili niyo, kasi pakiramdam ko po ngayon, nakakadiri po. Kaya ayaw ko pong mangyari sa inyo ‘yon,” she wrote. 

(I feel disgusted with myself now, and I don’t want the same thing to happen to you.) 

Despite what she endured, the survivor expressed gratitude to those who helped her, saying the rescue brought her relief and a renewed sense of safety.

According to Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) chief PBGen. Maria Sheila Portento, the teenager was among 16 individuals rescued in separate operations in Cainta and General Santos City on October 13.

The Cainta operation stemmed from information shared by Dutch police following the arrest of a foreign doctor. 

“Nung nag-conduct ng digital forensic examination sa mga devices niya, nakita doon na may mga contact siya dito sa Pilipinas kaya naipasa sa amin,” Portento said. 

“‘Yung mga imbestigador namin, masusi nilang pinag-aralan, inimbestigahan ‘yung kaso, at natumbok namin itong perpetrator dito sa Cainta,” she added.

Police rescued five individuals, including the 14-year-old girl.

According to the WCPC, investigators recovered images and videos allegedly showing the teenager being made to perform sexual acts.

“Nag-disclose din siya na itong Dutch doctor na ito pumunta dito para abusuhin siya and may binanggit siya na may dalawa din foreigners na ki-nater (cater) niya through her mother na naabuso din siya,” Portento said.  

Authorities are investigating these allegations to identify the other possible perpetrators and pursue accountability.

The primary suspect, who is the mother of the victims, was not at the identified residence when police carried out the raid. 

Meanwhile, 11 minors were rescued in separate operations in General Santos City.

Portento said investigators identified three alleged perpetrators in the cases. 

“Ito naman, merong nahuli sa Chicago, he’s an American national. Nung inexamine ‘yung devices niya, nakita doon na meron siyang mga kausap na mga Pilipinong nambubugaw or facilitators identified ito na nasa Gen San. Tatlo sila,” she said. 

Two were arrested, while the third remained at large.

Among those arrested were parents allegedly involved in exploiting their own children.

Authorities said the children were allegedly exploited through the sale of sexual abuse materials and livestreamed sexual acts for foreign customers.

The WCPC said the rescued children would undergo assessment and psychosocial interventions with the help of social workers to support their recovery and healing.

Portento said poverty should not be used to justify the exploitation of children, noting that the amounts allegedly involved in these cases ranged from hundreds of pesos to P3,000.

“Bilang nanay, tayo dapat ‘yung unang nagpoprotekta sa mga bata. Maraming nanay diyan ke-mahirap, ke-mayaman, edukado or walang pinag-aralan, hindi nanaisin na kahit madapuan ng lamok ‘yung anak nila and yet nakukuha ng nanay na ito na gawin ang karumal-dumal sa anak na niya, na ginawang kalakal ‘yung bata,” she said. 

For the WCPC chief, the rescue of even one child is worth the effort if it meant giving a survivor a chance to escape abuse and rebuild their life.

She said authorities would continue pursuing OSAEC cases and working with foreign law enforcement agencies and online platforms to strengthen investigations and hold perpetrators accountable.