Man nabbed for international kiddie porn ring in Bulacan

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) nabbed a man who allegedly peddled pedophilia online during a raid on his house in Bulacan. (PNA photo)

MANILA — Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) nabbed a man who allegedly peddled pedophilia online during a raid on his house in Bulacan.

Operatives of the NBI- Anti-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD) and PNP-Women and Child Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) identified the man as Anselmo Ico Jr., also known by his clients as “Jaja Jhoncel”.

Ico has reportedly been selling online child porn from Bulacan to clients in Europe and the United States since 2011. He has been under the radar of US investigators since 2016.

During the operation last March 8, law enforcers also rescued from Ico’s house in Barangay Anilao, Malolos City a baby and four minors aged two to 16 years old.

Armed with a search warrant, the raiding team, composed of NBI and PNP-WCPC operatives, National Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) – Norway police, agents from Homeland Security Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the International Justice Mission, apprehended Ico.

NBI AHTRAD chief Janet Francisco said Ico used the online messaging app Skype through a cellular phone, a laptop, and a tablet to sell his videos.

Francisco said at times, relatives of the victims would approach the suspect and help take video footage of their children in exchange for cash. The suspect claimed he sold videos to his clients for about PHP5,000.

NBI Director Dante A. Gierran said the incident shows the global extent of the problem, adding Ico was actively involved in producing and selling explicit sexual activities of children or child pornography.

The operation stemmed from a letter sent by NCIS-Norway last January 3. The Norwegian agency said it has arrested Ketil Andersen, a Norwegian citizen who was buying child pornographic materials produced in the Philippines. Andersen, 58, is a petroleum engineer and a father of two.

Ico is now facing several criminal charges, including violations of the provisions of Expanded Anti-Human Trafficking of Persons Act of 2012, Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, and the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.