ILIGAN CITY — Three children, including an infant, were rescued from alleged online sexual abuse and exploitation during an operation in Purok Mangga, Zone 1, Barangay Tubod on March 17, 2026.

Authorities found a 12-year-old girl and two young boys in an abusive environment during the raid.

Police forensic experts examining seized laptops and digital devices for evidence of online sexual abuse and exploitation in Iligan City.
DIGITAL TRAIL. Authorities examine computer hardware and mobile devices seized under a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD). Forensic experts confirmed the presence of exploitative materials on the devices. (Photo courtesy of Task Force OSAEC Iligan)

Police Major Alexander C. Lawan led the Iligan City Police Task Force during the operation. Multiple law enforcement units and partner agencies provided critical support for the anti-OSAEC mission.

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Authorities executed a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD No. 26-003). During the search, they secured the children and gathered digital evidence.

Police arrested one suspect for violating Republic Act No. 11930. The suspect faces charges after forensic experts found exploitative digital materials.

The rescued children are now under the care of social welfare authorities and are receiving protection and psychosocial support.

The operation was carried out in coordination with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Department of Justice–Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC), Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 10 (RACU 10), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 10, and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (UKNCA).

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Authorities emphasized that operations like this highlight the continuing fight against online child exploitation and the need for public vigilance.

They urged the public to report suspected cases, stressing that protecting children is a shared responsibility.

DSWD Region 10 social workers providing immediate care to child victims rescued from online exploitation in Iligan City.
RESCUED AND SECURED. DSWD Region 10 social workers provide immediate psychosocial support to three children rescued in Iligan City. The victims, including a 10-month-old infant, are now in a secure government facility.
Local and international law enforcement agencies including PAOCC, DOJ-OOC, and UKNCA posing together after an anti-cybercrime operation in Mindanao.
UNITED FRONT. Representatives from the PAOCC, DOJ, and the UK National Crime Agency coordinate with local Iligan police following the successful rescue mission. The operation highlights the international effort to combat online child abuse. (Photo courtesy of Task Force OSAEC Iligan)
Iligan City Police Task Force and RACU 10 officers conducting an anti-OSAEC rescue operation in Barangay Tubod, Iligan City.
CRACKDOWN ON EXPLOITATION. Law enforcement officers from Task Force OSAEC Iligan secure the scene during a rescue operation in Barangay Tubod on March 17, 2026. The raid resulted in the rescue of three minors and the arrest of one suspect. (Photo courtesy of Task Force OSAEC Iligan)
Iligan City Police Task Force conducting a rescue operation for victims of online sexual exploitation.
SAFE HAVEN. DSWD Region 10 social workers provide immediate psychosocial support and protection to the three rescued children. The victims, including a 10-month-old infant, are now in a secure government facility. (Photo courtesy of Task Force OSAEC Iligan)