ELEMENTS of the Northern Police District (NPD) rescued nine young women, eight of them minors, in an entrapment and rescue operations against online sexual exploitation and human trafficking Thursday evening in Caloocan City.

District Special Operation Unit chief P/Col. Jay Dimaandal said the operation stemmed from information received by P/Lt. Melito Pabon about an alleged rampant online sexual exploitation of minors in North Caloocan.

After verifying the validity of the report, joint operatives of the NPD Women and Children’s Protection Desk led by P/Maj. Vicky Tamayo, Sub-Station 9 commander P/Maj. Harold Melgar and a team from Department of Justice-Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and City Social Welfare and Development conducted rescue operations at Blk 41 Lot 22, Road 14, Congress Village Taas, Bgy. 173 past 6 p.m.

Pabon said they were able to rescue eight young girls whose ages ranged from 12 to 17 and one 18-year-old who were allegedly sexually exploited online.

Police also arrested suspected pimps identified as John Mico Atendido, 21, and Chris Jayson Magbanua, 18, both residing at Block 25 Lot 5, Package 5 Bgy. 176, Bagong Silang, and a 17-year-old minor.

NPD Director P/BGen. Jose Santiago Hidalgo said the arrested suspects will be presented for inquest proceedings before the Caloocan City Prosecutor’s Office on charges for violation of Republic Act 9208 as amended by RA 10364, otherwise known as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

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Edd Reyes