‘Demon’ child sex trafficker brought home from Dubai

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

ARRESTED. Interior and Local Government Secretary Banjamin Abalos (seated, center) presents to the media Teddy Jay Mojeca Mejia at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday (Sept. 12, 2024). Mejia is a big-time Filipino child sex trafficker who was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Screengrab via PNA)

MANILA – Authorities arrived on Thursday with Teddy Jay Mojeca Mejia, an alleged big-time Filipino child sex trafficker who was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos called Mejia a “demon” who engaged in selling child sexual abuse and exploitation materials.

“Lumalabas, itong demonyong ito pinoprofile niya yung mga batang loner, mga batang matatalino. Isipin mo 9 years old, 10, 11 musmos na musmos yan (It turns out that this demon is profiling the loner kids, the smart kids. Can you imagine, these are 9 years old, 10, 11, that’s very innocent),” Abalos said.

He said Mejia would offer PHP500 to the loners spending considerable time online in exchange of the child’s photo.

“Pagkatapos magpadala ng litrato. Kung ayaw na nung bata tatakutin na nito. Yung mukha ng bata lalagyan niya ng fake na nakahubad so yung bata ngayon papalag (After sending a photo, if the child doesn’t want it, he will scare his target. He will put a fake naked body to the child’s face, so the child will resist),” he said.

“What do you expect at yung iba ginagahasa at paggahasa tinitape pa at binibenta pa ulit hanggang yung mga bata na enslave niya. Ganun kasama itong hindi tao (What do you expect and others were raped and it will be recorded and will be sold until the children become his slaves. So, this is how bad this man is),” he added.

Mejia was arrested pursuant to the Red Notice issued by Interpol. He is also on the Red Notice list of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Abalos vowed to work closely with other government agencies to address online child sexual abuse and exploitation.

“Hindi kami titigil sa bawat isla sa buong Pilipinas just to end this online child exploitation. Kaya binabalaan ko tumigil na yung mga kamukha nitong demonyong ito (We will not stop in every island throughout the country just to end this online child exploitation. So I warn those like this demon to stop),” Abalos said.

He also called on parents to raise their children with care and love and nurture them in the right direction.

“Bantayan natin ang mga anak natin (We should watch our children),” Abalos said.

Abalos said there should be a law that would penalize the consumers of the sexually explicit photos and videos involving minors.

He said Mejia would face charges of statutory rape, qualified trafficking of persons, and violations of Republic Act 11930, or the Anti Online Sexual Exploitation of Children and Anti Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act.

Mejia was also arrested in 2014 and 2015 in the Philippines for violations of the Anti-Child Abuse Law and Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism.