3 rape suspects, alleged child molester arrested in South Cotabato
The police arrested three rape suspects and an alleged child molester in separate operations the past two days in South Cotabato province......»»
3 rape, child molestation suspects nabbed in South Cotabato
Three men accused of rape and child molestation were arrested in South Cotabato over the weekend, police said......»»
3 rape suspects arrested in separate police ops in South Cotabato
Police operatives arrested three long wanted rape suspects, one of them detained for other criminal offenses, in separate operations Thursday......»»
Father, accused of raping 9-year-old daughter, arrested in Argao
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A father was arrested after he was accused of allegedly raping his 9-year-old daughter in Argao town in southern Cebu. According to Police Major Ivy M. Bartolome, of the Argao Police Station in her report, the mother and the child reported the alleged rape to the police station, and a hot The post Father, accused of raping 9-year-old daughter, arrested in Argao appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Australian man charged with sex crimes against 91 young girls
An Australian former childcare worker sexually abused 91 young girls in a "chilling" spate of crimes across 15 years, police said Tuesday after charging him with 1,623 separate offenses, including rape. Seasoned detectives have described it as one of Australia's "most horrific" child sex abuse cases, with a scale of offenses "beyond the realms of anyone's imagination". "I know this news will seem unfathomable, and I know there will be many questions," said Assistant Federal Police Commissioner Justine Gough. "There is not much solace I can give to the parents and children who have been identified," she added. Included within the 1,623 charges are 136 counts of rape, 110 counts of sexual intercourse with a child younger than 10 -- a charge used instead of rape in some Australian jurisdictions -- and 613 counts of making child pornography. Investigators have been hunting for the 45-year-old man since discovering a cache of child pornography photos and videos being shared on the dark web in 2014. But their efforts had been mostly fruitless until they made an unexpected breakthrough in August last year -- matching visual clues in the background of the material to a childcare center in the city of Brisbane. While the man was initially charged with just three offenses, Gough said the gravity of his "heinous" alleged crimes emerged as police sifted further through his computer and phone. Police believe the man filmed or took pictures of "all" his alleged crimes -- and eventually cataloged more than 4,000 photos and videos of abuse. New South Wales Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said it was one of the most horrific cases he had ever seen. "It's beyond the realms of anyone's imagination what this person did to these children," he said. "I can only say, you try not to be shocked after a long period of time in the police, but this is a horrific case." Young girls targeted Police said the abuse happened at 10 different childcare centers between 2007 and 2022 and exclusively targeted "prepubescent girls" -- some as young as one year old. While 87 of the 91 victims were from the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales, police believed four other unidentified children were abused while the man worked overseas for a brief spell between 2013 and 2014. Police said they were now working with international crime agencies to find those children, without revealing which country they were targeting. "We have been working tirelessly since August last year to identify the children in the alleged child abuse material," Gough said. Police said the man had passed the stringent series of background checks needed to work at childcare centers in the states of Queensland and New South Wales. Queensland's Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Col Briggs said detectives had first been tipped off in 2021, but had been hamstrung by a lack of evidence. "There was insufficient evidence to take action against any person based on evidence available at the time," he said. Given the sheer volume of child abuse material that needed to be documented, a dedicated task force of about 35 staff was called in to work on the investigation. The man, who has not been named by police, is scheduled to face court in Queensland on August 21. Once those proceedings are finished, he will be extradited to New South Wales to face further charges. The post Australian man charged with sex crimes against 91 young girls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
3 child exploiters nabbed
Operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation have arrested three individuals believed to be involved on offering videos on sexual exploitation of children for a fee in Taguig City. The NBI did not reveal the names of those arrested but they were already charged with violations of Republic Act 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children; RA 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended by RA 10364 and RA 11862; and RA 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. Initial reports disclosed that the suspects were arrested last 11 July during an operation conducted by agents of the NBI’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division in Tipas, Taguig City. The agents were accompanied by officers of the NBI’s Digital Forensic Laboratory and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in implementing a Warrant to Seize, Search, and Examine Computer Data. The NBI said the results of examination turned positive on subjects’ cellular phones. The operation was launched by the NBI on “a report and case referral from Destiny Rescue International regarding the alleged sexual exploitation of young children committed by a certain person who appeared to be in the Philippines and is offering live sexual exhibition involving two-year-old child in exchange for a fee.” Destiny Rescue International is a global non-profit organization with a mission “to rescue kids from sexual exploitation and human trafficking and to help them stay free.” An NBI agent, posing as a private individual, was “able to establish communication with the Subject who was offering toddlers of seven to eight years old.” “From 50 CSAEMs or child sexual abuse and exploitation materials sent by the suspect, there were videos showing a toddler being sexually abused by her mother,” the NBI said. The post 3 child exploiters nabbed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Child molester behind bars
Authorities arrested a 35-year-old man after he allegedly molested a Grade 2 female student inside the victim’s house in San Andres Bukid, Manila. Police identified the suspect as Jefferson Ocenar, a resident of San Andres Bukid. He was nabbed by authorities after the father of the 9-year-old kid filed a complaint against him. The girl’s father said that the suspect is their relative. Initial reports disclosed that the incident happened around 3 a.m. inside the victim’s residence and the victim said that the suspect managed to insert his finger into her private part while sleeping. After the act, the victim said that she got up and informed her father of the incident. The father immediately sought help from personnel at the Dagonoy Police Precinct which resulted to the arrest of the suspect. The suspect is facing charges for violation of RA 11648 or Statutory Rape in relation to RA 7610. The post Child molester behind bars appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BIFF bomb maker falls
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military on Monday reported the arrest of an individual believed to be the improvised explosive device maker of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Karialan Faction at the vicinity of the Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Barangay Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City. 90th Infantry Battalion commanding officer Lt. Col. Rowel Gavilanes disclosed that state forces arrested the suspect near the Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City on Friday. Gavilanes identified the suspect as Kuntong Basilan, alias Tong Basilan, and Michael Basilan, who is facing two counts of double murder, multiple frustrated murders and an arson filed against him in the local court. Alias Tong Basilan is a known IED-making expert of the BIFF-Karialan Faction, a confidante of the late Ameril Umbra Kato and triggerman of Kumander Paradise, and Gavilanes added that he is also involved in some violence against government security forces and civilians of Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte. “Based on our information, the suspect was involved in a gun-for-hire, harassment and landmine attack on a military installation in Sitio Risingan, Dungguan, Aleosan, Cotabato; burning of civilian properties in Sitio Poypoyon, Dungguan and Bagolibas, Aleosan and Baliki, Midsayap, Cotabato in 2008, and a series of shooting incidents targeting the PNP and AFP in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte in 2019 to 2020,” Gavilanes said. He assured the people of Central and South Central Mindanao that the AFP and PNP would continue to work to eliminate threats to peace and maintain order in their locality. The operation against the suspects was jointly conducted by soldiers of the 90th IB, 34th IB, PNP-Special Action Force and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Maguindanao Provincial Field Unit. Basilan is currently in the custody of the CIDG-Maguindanao for appropriate disposition. The post BIFF bomb maker falls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AFP, PNP nab top suspect in Gov. Adiong ambush
The joint operatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police on Thursday arrested the primary suspect in the ambush of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. that killed his driver and three police escorts on 17 February. The 42-year-old suspect, identified as Lomala Baratumo, alias “Commander Lomala”, was arrested at a checkpoint in Sitio Morales, Barangay Centrala, Surallah, South Cotabato on 25 May. Col. Andre Santos, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade Commander, said the Joint Task Force Central of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division and the PNP have been working together since February to locate the suspect. According to the Kampilan Division, Baratumo has a standing warrant of arrest for murder and is tagged as the fifth most wanted person in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. He was also one of the most wanted persons in Lanao del Sur. The alleged mastermind of the ambush, identified as Oscar Tacmar Capal Gandawali, leader of the Gandawali private armed group, was killed in an encounter with police officers earlier this month. South Cotabato Provincial Police Office temporarily took custody of Baratumo pending his turnover to the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office. The post AFP, PNP nab top suspect in Gov. Adiong ambush appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
South Cotabato councilor wanted for rape falls
A councilor of Tantangan town in South Cotabato, who is wanted for rape, was arrested at his hideout in this city on Friday.June Seneca did not resist arrest when collared by personnel of the Soccsksargen police......»»
2 most wanted child abusers fall in Caraga
BUTUAN CITY - Two rape suspects considered as among the most wanted persons in the Caraga Region have been arrested in separate law enforcement operations, the police regional office said Thursday.In a statement, the Police Regional Office in Caraga identified those apprehended Wednesday as.....»»
2 drug suspects with links to terrorist groups slain
Two drug suspects with links to local terrorist groups were killed in alleged shootouts with law enforcers in South Cotabato and Tawi-Tawi on Thursday......»»
Gov’t looking for ways to address child sexual abuse
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the government is actively engaged in discussions on how to address the pervasive issue of child sexual abuse. He said the government is, at present, exploring all possible avenues, including seeking advice and guidance from the Supreme Court. Remulla said the issue of child sexual abuse is one of the problems the country is facing at the moment, which is why the government is exploring ways to address it and give importance to how to combat it and hopefully eradicate the problem. The DOJ chief has expressed deep concern over the rampant issue of child sexual exploitation in the Philippines, referring to it as an “epidemic” that has silently persisted over the years. Remulla’s remarks were prompted by the disturbing reports of alleged sexual abuses linked to a “doomsday cult” in Surigao del Norte. He said the charges against the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) are not isolated incidents; rather, they exemplify a distressing pattern that extends to other regions. Remulla revealed that a similar pattern of sexual predation had recently emerged on an island in Zamboanga, an incident that had gone unreported. “They are saying a cult in Surigao del Norte is not new. Only recently, two or three weeks ago, there was an incident reported in an isle in Zamboanga. This is an epidemic in the whole country wherein the children are the victims of sexual abuse and many of those are incestuous rape, which is really a problem,” said Remulla. The allegations against SBSI, made by Senator Risa Hontiveros, are deeply troubling. The cult is accused of sexually abusing and coercing over 1,000 children in Socorro town over the years. The senator brought these grave allegations to light and called for the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation. In Senate Resolution No. 797, dated 18 September, Hontiveros stressed the urgent need for action in response to “alarming” reports of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor, and forced marriages involving minors within SBSI. The post Gov’t looking for ways to address child sexual abuse appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dawlah Islamiyah members fall
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Police and military personnel raided a suspected hideout of Dawlah Islamiyah Maguid Group in Sitio Bunawan, Tupi town in South Cotabato and arrested four people believed supporters of the front. Joint Task Force Central commander Major General Alex Rillera on Tuesday said that authorities — armed with a warrant of arrest against a certain Rex Soliman — raided his hideout at dawn on Sunday. However, Soliman, also known as Latif, the leader of the armed lawless group and supporter of the DI-Maguid Group, was able to elude arrest. Meantime, four of the insurgent leader’s followers were arrested during the raid. They were identified as Angelo Abul, Melvin Ditan, John Ditan, and Gabriel Palucan, all residents of Barangay Polonuling, Tupi, South Cotabato. Authorities also seized from the possession of his four followers one unit of improvised cal .45 home-made Thompson rifle, a magazine for .45 cal., one unit of cal. 38 revolver pistol with ammunition, one piece of grenade and some sachet of suspected shabu. Rillera thanked the quick response of the military, police, and the local government of South Cotabato during the conduct of the raid. “This operation shows the continued efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat lawless group and drug-related activities to maintain peace and order in the province,” Rillera said. The post Dawlah Islamiyah members fall appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US, Iran release prisoners in $6 billion swap deal
The United States and Iran on Monday swapped five prisoners each in one of the arch-foes' first deals in years as Tehran gained access to $6 billion in frozen funds. The five Americans freed by Iran, including one held for eight years, flew out of Tehran in a Qatari jet, hours after the unblocked funds were deposited in accounts also managed by Qatar. The White House said it was "pleased to confirm" the plane carrying the freed Americans had left Doha, Qatar for the United States, and that President Joe Biden had spoken with the families of the Americans in an "emotional call". The five had walked in the setting sun on the tarmac in Doha, three of them with arms around one another's shoulders. One of them praised Biden for ignoring the political backlash and taking the "incredibly difficult decisions" that freed them. "Thank you, President Biden, for ultimately putting the lives of American citizens above politics," Siamak Namazi, a businessman held since 2015, said in a statement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who spoke to the released Americans by telephone after they landed in Doha, insisted the Biden administration had "no higher priority" than freeing US citizens. "It's very good to be able to say that our fellow citizens are free," Blinken told reporters in New York, where he and Biden are taking part in UN meetings. Two of the Iranian detainees arrived in Qatar, Iranian media said. The other three released by the United States have opted to remain there or in a third country. After quiet discussions led in part by Qatar, the two countries completed the exchange after the transfer of $6 billion in funds, frozen by US ally South Korea. The Biden administration has rejected criticism at home that it is paying "ransom," insisting the money will be used only humanitarian purposes, with a threat to re-freeze the funds if not. But Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, speaking earlier in Tehran, said the clerical state will have "total access" to the assets. Political risks for Biden Biden's Republican rivals have roundly denounced the deal. Republican Senator Mitt Romney said it would lead to "kidnappings". "The idea of basically paying to release, in this effect, a hostage is a terrible idea," he said. Mindful of political risks, Biden in a statement said he would "continue to impose costs" on Iran and announced sanctions against former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the country's intelligence ministry. The sanctions were imposed over alleged deceit in the disappearance of Bob Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran in mysterious circumstance and is presumed dead. Biden in his statement did not mention that he granted clemency to five Iranians. A US official said that all were convicted or changed with non-violent crimes, with one already set to be released soon. Iran had generated the revenue through oil sales. South Korea froze the funds after Biden's Republican predecessor Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark nuclear accord and imposed unilateral US sanctions on buying oil from Iran. Iran's central bank governor said Iran would seek damages from South Korea. "We're making a complaint on behalf of Iran against South Korea for not giving access to these funds and the reduction in value of these funds in order to receive damages," Mohammadreza Farzin said on state television. The five Americans of Iranian descent -- all considered Iranian nationals by Tehran, which rejects dual nationality -- were released to house arrest when the deal was agreed last month. Besides Namazi, they include wildlife conservationist Morad Tahbaz, venture capitalist Emad Sharqi and two others who wished to remain anonymous. All were accused of spying or other crimes that they strongly reject. Tahbaz also holds UK nationality. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain was not involved in the deal but that he was "extremely pleased" he was free. A US official said that two more US citizens flew out of Tehran -- Namazi's mother and Sharqi's wife, who were not in prison but had ont been allowed to leave. According to Tehran, the freed Iranians include Reza Sarhangpour and Kambiz Attar Kashani, both accused of violating US sanctions against Tehran. A third prisoner, Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, was detained at his home near Boston in 2021 and charged with being an Iranian government agent, according to US officials. The two others, Mehrdad Moein Ansari and Amin Hasanzadeh, were said to have links to Iranian security forces. Nudge on nuclear? The swap was the first deal sealed by Biden with Iran's clerical rulers, who toppled the pro-Western shah in 1979 and are deeply hostile to the United States. Biden took office with hopes of restoring the 2015 nuclear agreement, under which Iran promised to constrain its contested nuclear work in return for sanctions relief. But months of talks failed to produce a breakthrough. Prospects to restore the deal sank further after protests broke out almost exactly a year ago in Iran following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the country's Islamic dress code for women. Blinken said that the release of the prisoners "doesn't speak to anything else in the relationship," with the nuclear issue "a different track." Biden is not expected to meet in New York with Iran's president, Ebrahim Raisi, who arrived Monday. The post US, Iran release prisoners in $6 billion swap deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Spain police nab bet fixers
Twenty-three suspected members of a bet-fixing ring were arrested in Spain on Friday. Police made the arrest after the tax office, Europol and Interpol helped them uncover a system that granted the suspects access to match information before the bookmakers, allowing them to place bets with certainty, a police statement said. Interpol said the gang used sophisticated satellite technology to access match information from “live video signals from around the world, straight from stadiums, pitches and arenas.” The gang’s system then placed bets on matches in the Asian and South American football leagues, Union of European Football Associations Nations League, the Bundesliga, the Qatar 2022 World Cup and the Association of Tennis Professionals and International Tennis Federation tennis tournaments. The gang used the identities of third parties to lay bets and collect the winnings so as not to arouse suspicion. The investigation of the ring began in 2020 when police noticed a series of suspicious online bets on international table tennis events that were linked to a Romanian and Bulgarian criminal network working in Spain. They also engaged in “fixing matches outside of Spain by corrupting athletes. Once the outcomes were agreed, crime group members based in Spain would then place online bets on a massive scale”, Interpol said. WITH AFP The post Spain police nab bet fixers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P816K worth shabu seized in 2 PDEA-12 operations
Anti-narcotics agents seized P816,000 worth of shabu from two alleged peddlers in separate operations here and in nearby Banga, South Cotabato province in just six days......»»
Court to deliver verdict on hacker behind biggest leak in football history
A Portuguese court was due on Monday to deliver its verdict on hacker Rui Pinto, whose flood of "Football Leaks" revelations exposed dirty dealings in international football. It was the biggest information leak in sports history and sparked criminal investigations in Belgium, Britain, France, Spain and Switzerland. The verdict, which has been postponed several times, was due to be delivered at a hearing in Lisbon starting at 2:30 pm (1330 GMT). Pinto, 34, is charged with 89 hacking offences, and with attempted extortion, a crime punishable in Portugal by between two and 10 years in prison. He argues he is a whistleblower, whose actions exposed underhand dealings involving top football stars, clubs and agents. Between 2015 and 2018, he shared 18.6 million documents on the internet and with a consortium of European newspapers, which published details. The revelations shook the football world. They included the salaries of Lionel Messi and Neymar, an accusation of rape against Cristiano Ronaldo, alleged financial sleight of hand at Manchester City and ethnic profiling at Paris Saint Germain. Defendant and witness Pinto is both a defendant and a protected witness in Portugal. When his trial began in September 2020, Pinto told the court he had been shocked by what he had discovered and was proud of bringing it to public knowledge. But he has admitted he used illegal means to obtain documents. His alleged victims include top Portuguese football club Sporting Lisbon, the Portuguese Football Federation, lawyers, magistrates and Doyen Sports -- a Malta-based investment fund run by Kazakh-Turkish oligarchs. Pinto was arrested in Hungary in 2019 and extradited to Portugal, where he spent a year behind bars before agreeing to cooperate with the Portuguese authorities on other cases, giving them access to encrypted documents he had obtained. The French authorities have also sought his cooperation over the "Luanda Leaks", a release of 715,000 documents providing compromising information on Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos, daughter of former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos. Dos Santos, once the richest woman in Africa, has faced several court cases on charges she syphoned billions of dollars from Angolan state companies during her father's four decades in office. The post Court to deliver verdict on hacker behind biggest leak in football history appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2 accomplices in Batangas village chief’s slay nabbed
Two alleged accomplices of the suspects in the killing of a barangay captain in Taal, Batangas on Tuesday have been arrested......»»
2 nabbed for carnapping, gun ban violation
Two suspects, including a minor, were nabbed for alleged carnapping and for violating the Comelec gun ban in Barangay Manggahan, Pasig City Monday evening. A 33-year-old complainant, a businessman, reported to the police that his white Yamaha Mio Sporty motorcycle, which was parked outside his residence, was missing. During a follow-up operation, joint operatives of the Pasig City Police chanced upon the 15-year-old suspect while driving the motorcycle of the victim. The stolen motorcycle was being pushed by the 20-year-old suspect, identified only as alias Marcel, using his foot, who was driving a black Suzuki Smash motorcycle along Amang Rodriguez Avenue in Barangay Manggahan. Seized from the suspects were one caliber .38 revolver without serial number loaded with two live ammunition and one hand grenade. During the investigation, it was learned that the Suzuki Smash motorcycle was owned by another complainant, a 29-year-old salesman, also a resident of Barangay Manggahan. According to the victim, his motorcycle was stolen on the same date while parked outside his residence. The arrested suspects also divulged the identities of their cohorts as alias Jelal and alias Rex, both residents of Barangay Pinagbuhatan, also in this city. Alias Jelal was also arrested in a follow-up operation. Recovered from him was a blue Yamaha Mio Sporty motorcycle owned by a female vendor. She said her motorcycle was stolen on the same date while parked outside her house in Barangay Santolan, also in this city. The suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act, Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in relation to Omnibus Election Code, and Republic Act 9516 or the Illegal Possession of Explosives. The post 2 nabbed for carnapping, gun ban violation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DNA evidence clears US man of rape charge 47 years later
A US man who served seven and a half years in prison for a rape he did not commit has been cleared nearly five decades later thanks to new DNA evidence, authorities said Tuesday. Leonard Mack, now 72, was arrested in 1975, in Greenburgh, New York state, after the rape of a teenage girl, who had been walking home from school with another girl. Police announced a search for a Black suspect in the mostly white neighborhood and shortly after picked up Mack, who is African American. After a campaign by the Innocence Project, DNA evidence not available at the time has "conclusively excluded 72-year-old Mr. Mack as the perpetrator and identified a convicted sex offender, who has now confessed to the rape," the Westchester County prosecutor's office said in a statement. "This is the longest wrongful conviction in US history known to the Innocence Project to be overturned by DNA evidence," the district attorney's office said, citing Mack's "unwavering strength fighting to clear his name for almost 50 years." According to the National Registry of Exonerations, 575 wrongly convicted people have been cleared based on new DNA tests since 1989 -- 35 of them while waiting for execution. Researchers say that Black suspects are far more likely to be the subjects of wrongful convictions than innocent white people. Although Black people account for only 13.6 percent of the total US population, more than half of the 3,300 people whose convictions were overturned between 1989 and 2022 were Black, the National Registry of Exonerations said. Reacting to his exoneration, Mack said: "I am finally free." The post DNA evidence clears US man of rape charge 47 years later appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»