Aired (September 10, 2023): Samahan sina Jessica Soho, John Consulta at Emil Sumangil sa madilim na mundo ng human trafficking, cybersex at illegal organ trade.
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FunTranscript
00:00:00 [typing]
00:00:02 [typing]
00:00:04 [music]
00:00:06 [music]
00:00:08 [phone ringing]
00:00:10 [phone ringing]
00:00:12 [phone ringing]
00:00:14 [phone ringing]
00:00:16 In many corners of the world,
00:00:19 an old but thriving industry is still operating.
00:00:25 Kids are being played online.
00:00:29 [phone ringing]
00:00:30 Hello?
00:00:31 Hi.
00:00:32 Who's that?
00:00:33 I don't want to be.
00:00:34 Oh.
00:00:35 Instead of their old videos and pictures,
00:00:40 they say,
00:00:42 they are being played by animals.
00:00:45 Even dogs.
00:00:46 They use them.
00:00:47 And then,
00:00:48 they are being played by kids.
00:00:50 From innocent kids,
00:00:53 some are victims of foreign countries.
00:00:57 [typing]
00:00:59 Who are just dreaming of a better tomorrow.
00:01:02 They are also being abused,
00:01:05 abused,
00:01:07 and abused.
00:01:09 Punch,
00:01:10 slap,
00:01:11 kick.
00:01:12 Punishment is getting worse.
00:01:15 We are in control of this world.
00:01:16 This is Myanmar.
00:01:18 We can kill you if we want to.
00:01:20 [music]
00:01:22 Until the force of the human organ,
00:01:27 Kidneys for Sale,
00:01:29 online.
00:01:30 She told me,
00:01:31 "Wherever you go in the Philippines,
00:01:33 I will find you and kill you."
00:01:35 She called us "mongkampas lupa."
00:01:38 If we really go back,
00:01:39 we will be in trouble.
00:01:41 [music]
00:01:43 Let's enter the dark,
00:01:45 gloomy,
00:01:46 and secluded world of human trafficking.
00:01:50 [music]
00:01:51 Will they be free from the clutches of Calvario?
00:01:57 [music]
00:02:04 In a remote residential area in Metro Manila,
00:02:07 a huge crime is happening.
00:02:10 [music]
00:02:17 At his young age,
00:02:19 Chelsea, 5 years old,
00:02:21 was attacked by a world-class criminal.
00:02:25 Her real name is not known.
00:02:27 Her famous videos and pictures
00:02:30 are being sold abroad.
00:02:32 In this surveillance video,
00:02:34 Chelsea will see a transgender
00:02:39 who is looking for information
00:02:41 about the children who will be attacked
00:02:43 by the so-called cybersex.
00:02:46 What's your name?
00:02:47 The child is not only looking,
00:02:50 but also waving at the camera.
00:02:52 [music]
00:02:53 If they agree,
00:02:54 the transgender will bring the children's
00:02:57 famous videos and pictures.
00:03:00 Or maybe it's a live show
00:03:03 in front of the video,
00:03:05 the foreign client.
00:03:06 [music]
00:03:08 The exchange rate is up to 500 to 10,000 pesos.
00:03:14 Oh my God!
00:03:16 [music]
00:03:18 But it's not only the transgender
00:03:20 who is abusing Chelsea.
00:03:23 In another video,
00:03:24 a woman with a tattoo is with Chelsea.
00:03:28 And when she looked at social media,
00:03:30 it turns out that she is the child's own mother,
00:03:35 whom we call Rochelle.
00:03:38 Her real name is not known.
00:03:40 [music]
00:03:42 Rochelle sometimes entered this situation
00:03:46 when she was still a minor.
00:03:48 [music]
00:03:49 What she did to her,
00:03:51 she also did to her own child.
00:03:54 [music]
00:03:56 And it's not only Chelsea
00:03:58 who was attacked in this situation.
00:04:00 The investigation shows that
00:04:03 aside from her,
00:04:04 there are other children who are being attacked online.
00:04:08 In these video calls,
00:04:10 which were taken by the asset of the NGO
00:04:13 or non-government organization
00:04:15 Destiny Rescue International,
00:04:18 it can be seen that the other minors
00:04:22 were identified as transgender
00:04:24 in a client's video.
00:04:27 [music]
00:04:31 The process is no different.
00:04:33 When the client is chosen,
00:04:35 the victims will commit a crime.
00:04:39 But sometimes,
00:04:41 they are even more severely abused.
00:04:45 There was a bestiality
00:04:47 or the use of animals to abuse the child.
00:04:52 Maybe it's one of the worst
00:04:55 or there are many children involved in the video.
00:04:59 They don't even think of
00:05:01 the abuse they are doing to the children.
00:05:03 [music]
00:05:05 After the thorough investigation,
00:05:08 the transgender identity was officially identified in the video.
00:05:14 She was identified as Melchor Santos,
00:05:17 alias LJ.
00:05:19 [music]
00:05:21 She was considered as the most wanted in the Philippines
00:05:25 because of the many cases
00:05:27 such as the violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act
00:05:32 and Special Protection of Children Against Abuse,
00:05:35 Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
00:05:38 The suspect, LJ,
00:05:40 was also targeted by other countries in Europe and Asia.
00:05:45 [music]
00:05:46 She is known to other countries
00:05:49 as a distributor of these kinds of materials.
00:05:53 [music]
00:05:55 I don't believe that she will be in the area during the...
00:05:59 July 28, 2023, the NBI or the National Bureau of Investigation
00:06:06 Anti-Human Trafficking Division or ATRAD,
00:06:09 Interagency Council Against Trafficking or IACAT,
00:06:13 and the NGO or Non-Government Organization
00:06:16 Destiny Rescue International
00:06:18 conducted an entrapment operation
00:06:21 and issued a search warrant against the suspect, LJ.
00:06:25 Melchor Santos is a known sex offender
00:06:29 victimizing a number of minor victims as young as 2 years old.
00:06:35 He's been doing this since 2017.
00:06:39 [music]
00:06:40 The operatives immediately went to the target location
00:06:44 in a city in Metro Manila.
00:06:46 [music]
00:06:51 Later...
00:06:53 [phone ringing]
00:06:54 The target received a call from LJ.
00:06:58 Where's [beep]
00:06:59 [beep] is not here with me.
00:07:01 I told you already, okay?
00:07:03 So that's the one that you promised?
00:07:05 For now, just that the two words, okay?
00:07:08 LJ answered the call.
00:07:10 [phone ringing]
00:07:11 In the second call,
00:07:13 a child was sleeping with his hair down.
00:07:16 The suspect then called the next call.
00:07:19 In the third call from LJ to the target,
00:07:22 he confirmed that he was abducting a 5-year-old girl, Chelsea.
00:07:27 Okay, now?
00:07:28 Who's that?
00:07:29 Oh, hi [beep]
00:07:30 Oh, where are you?
00:07:31 Okay.
00:07:32 Okay, now?
00:07:34 Whose house is that?
00:07:35 This is the person who became the authority
00:07:38 to conduct a rescue operation and arrest the suspect.
00:07:42 [music]
00:07:45 Will we finally catch one of the most wanted in the Philippines
00:07:51 and in the other 8 countries in the world?
00:07:54 [music]
00:07:57 The online world is not only the source of crime,
00:08:02 it has also become a path to another kind of human trafficking.
00:08:08 Victims dream of a better life in other countries,
00:08:13 but in the end, they were abused and hurt.
00:08:17 [music]
00:08:19 [music]
00:08:21 [music]
00:08:22 In one video, you can see the cans that were thrown at the body of a man
00:08:29 and a transgender Filipino.
00:08:33 These videos of abuse were recorded in a place in Myanmar or former Burma.
00:08:43 [music]
00:08:46 They were promised a good job and a high salary,
00:08:51 but due to their ignorance and against their will,
00:08:56 they were sent home as cyber slaves.
00:09:00 Your hits on the back are so bad.
00:09:04 I talked to the two victims in the video.
00:09:07 Let's hide them under the names Ray and Isabel.
00:09:12 Isabel's story is that she was a teacher and call center agent in the Philippines.
00:09:18 Her salary back then was Php 30,000 per month.
00:09:23 Ray was a transport driver with a salary of Php 15,000 per month.
00:09:29 Until November 2022, Isabel saw on a social media platform
00:09:35 that they are looking for a customer service representative or call center agent in Thailand.
00:09:42 How did you get recruited in this kind of job?
00:09:46 In other social media, there is a customer service hiring.
00:09:52 I left my name and contact number.
00:09:54 After 30 minutes to an hour, someone contacted me.
00:09:59 Ray was also a well-known agent in December of that year.
00:10:04 His papers were processed quickly because some of them were even sold by a well-known recruiter.
00:10:13 The total salary is Php 1,000 or Php 55,000.
00:10:19 Not higher than their salary in the Philippines.
00:10:24 The food and accommodation is also free,
00:10:27 so Isabel and Ray quickly jumped on the job offer.
00:10:32 The employment process is normal.
00:10:34 They sent me an application form.
00:10:36 After the application form, they also have a test.
00:10:40 They also have an initial interview.
00:10:42 Then they have a final interview.
00:10:44 I passed all of that.
00:10:46 The interview is online?
00:10:47 Online.
00:10:48 It's online by phone call.
00:10:50 No one was able to stop her.
00:10:52 December 8, 2022, Isabel flew to Bangkok, Thailand.
00:10:58 She only spent two days there.
00:11:01 Ray also flew there.
00:11:03 Isabel said that she noticed the VIP treatment given to her at the immigration counter in the airport in Thailand.
00:11:14 I feel like she's an immigration officer because she's wearing a uniform.
00:11:17 I didn't queue up in my immigration lane where there are other foreigners.
00:11:21 She opened her own booth for me.
00:11:23 I was the only one there.
00:11:25 She got my passport without asking.
00:11:27 She stamped it.
00:11:28 She stamped my passport, my tourist visa.
00:11:31 Then she accompanied me outside.
00:11:33 After leaving the airport, they were followed by a car rental.
00:11:39 And from Bangkok, they traveled for eight hours with other Filipinos.
00:11:46 It was a long journey that they didn't know where to go.
00:11:53 I didn't know what province of Thailand they brought me to.
00:11:58 They brought me to a remote place.
00:12:01 The next day, the driver followed me again.
00:12:05 After following me, he was not alone.
00:12:07 He was with the army.
00:12:11 After a few hours, they traveled for 20 minutes to a remote place.
00:12:19 Until they reached a river.
00:12:22 That's the border of Thailand and Myanmar.
00:12:26 It's called Mae Sot District.
00:12:29 From here, they boarded a small boat.
00:12:34 They let me board the boat.
00:12:36 I didn't want to.
00:12:37 They took my luggage and boarded the boat.
00:12:39 Then, the other military army boarded the boat.
00:12:44 I joined them because some didn't want to board the boat.
00:12:47 I was scared.
00:12:48 It's scary when you're in that situation.
00:12:51 You don't know what to do.
00:12:52 You can't talk to anyone.
00:12:54 You don't understand each other.
00:12:56 And your companions are armed.
00:12:58 When they got off the boat, Isabel arrived at a place with many buildings.
00:13:06 It's like a big city.
00:13:10 That's what they call "scam city".
00:13:20 It's where various types of scam operations or "pambubudol" are done.
00:13:26 I saw the inside.
00:13:35 It's a community of buildings.
00:13:37 The buildings look almost the same.
00:13:40 When they entered the office,
00:13:44 some demonized Chinese nationals made them face the real job they were assigned.
00:13:52 Not as call center agents,
00:13:55 but as scammers or "pambubudol".
00:14:02 I thought the job is CSR.
00:14:05 Customer Service Representative.
00:14:07 Now, I found out that they told me that the job is not like that.
00:14:12 The job is a scam.
00:14:15 What was your reaction when they told you that the job is also a scam?
00:14:21 I just found out from my fellow Filipinos.
00:14:25 The promised salary of $1,000 or P55,000 per month
00:14:32 became $300 or P16,500.
00:14:38 At that point, because there are more red flags or indications that they are also victims of scam,
00:14:48 they said that they will just return to the Philippines.
00:14:53 But,
00:14:54 If I go back, I will pay $4,000 for the expenses they spent on my trip.
00:15:01 I said I don't have $4,000.
00:15:03 Now, they told me that if I don't have money to pay, I will work.
00:15:07 I said I don't want to work.
00:15:09 They told me that this is Myanmar.
00:15:13 There is no government here.
00:15:15 We control this area.
00:15:17 We can kill you.
00:15:18 It's like a bad dream.
00:15:23 Isabel and Ray couldn't do anything.
00:15:26 So, they were forced to be scammers.
00:15:31 They have targets, countries.
00:15:35 They are systematic.
00:15:37 They have a database where we get names, contact numbers, and other details of our target customers.
00:15:45 Isabel said that they have a script in communicating with their target victims.
00:15:53 What they provide is work and hotel bookings.
00:15:58 We will introduce the benefits or what you can get from the company.
00:16:04 How much will it cost?
00:16:06 You just need to get the heart of your customer.
00:16:10 So, the job offer is just like a bait.
00:16:14 The real benefit is that you can invest the customer.
00:16:20 Okay.
00:16:21 Every team has a quota.
00:16:24 They should be able to scam 2,500 dollars or equivalent to 140,000 pesos every day.
00:16:34 If they reach the quota by mistake, they will be punished.
00:16:41 What happens if you don't meet the quota?
00:16:44 If we don't meet the quota, we will be removed by a meal card.
00:16:51 Meal card?
00:16:52 Our access to the food.
00:16:54 You won't be able to eat.
00:16:55 Sometimes, they will be fined 1,500 to 6,500 pesos.
00:17:06 But the most dangerous thing in all the punishment is the pain in their hearts.
00:17:15 In this video, some victims are being run in a basketball court for more than an hour.
00:17:24 In another video, a woman victim is being seen being beaten repeatedly inside a room.
00:17:38 In another video, the victims are being seen standing in a line to be punished.
00:17:45 If you run out of money, you will be punished.
00:17:48 The punishment is very dangerous.
00:17:50 The company is saying, "You should scam more people because if not, you will be punished."
00:17:58 And the most dangerous thing is that there is also a "Kinuryente".
00:18:04 They will be beaten, kicked, and whatever else they hit me with.
00:18:09 They will be hit with a keyboard, a wooden stick, a steel rod, and a bat.
00:18:14 They will be beaten until they can't speak.
00:18:17 We have control over this place.
00:18:19 This is Myanmar.
00:18:20 We have money running here.
00:18:22 We can kill you if we want to.
00:18:24 There is prostitution.
00:18:26 There are drugs being circulated.
00:18:29 They are saying that we have blood testing for organ trafficking.
00:18:37 All the bad things that can be seen are there.
00:18:42 It's like hell on earth.
00:18:46 Because of the abuse that she experienced and witnessed,
00:18:54 Isabel Atrey made a plan to talk to the police attache of the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok.
00:19:03 The problem is that someone went against their plan.
00:19:07 That's why they started their more intense calvary.
00:19:12 We are the ones who are being taught by the promoters of the Filipino people's violence.
00:19:19 We reported to the embassy.
00:19:25 They were the first to report to me.
00:19:27 Then after a few minutes, I was the one they followed.
00:19:30 It's the same in front of many employees.
00:19:33 They will beat you up, wherever they want to beat you up.
00:19:39 So we just did our job.
00:19:45 In these videos, you can see how bad the abuse of Isabel Atrey was.
00:19:51 Isabel was hit by a bat and a stick on her back and shoulders.
00:19:57 While Ray was hit by a bat on his arm, shoulders, back, and head.
00:20:05 They thought that those times were over.
00:20:11 It's mind-boggling what you went through.
00:20:15 What were you thinking while all of this was happening?
00:20:18 To be honest, I'm just thankful that I'm alive.
00:20:21 Because I thought I would never be alive.
00:20:24 If I get a chance,
00:20:29 I want to ask for a personal favor from some of my former customers.
00:20:40 I want to apologize to them in person.
00:20:44 I want to talk to them.
00:20:45 Until July 1, they were allowed to leave Scam City.
00:20:52 Isabel Atrey came back to life in Philand from Scam City.
00:20:58 And on July 7, they were finally home in the Philippines.
00:21:05 Isabel Atrey said that many Filipinos were still being held hostage in Scam City at that time.
00:21:15 That's why we immediately contacted the Philippine Police Attaché in Philand
00:21:21 to join their efforts to help other Filipino victims.
00:21:30 Together with Senior News Correspondent John Consulta, our team went to Philand.
00:21:37 It's 11 p.m. in Manila time here in Naiya Terminal 3 in Manila.
00:21:44 We're on our way to the Thai side of the country.
00:21:49 Hopefully, we'll be able to reach our fellow Filipinos from the Scam Hub operating in Myanmar.
00:21:57 [Music]
00:22:04 Upon arrival in Bangkok, Thailand,
00:22:07 the group immediately contacted the Philippine Embassy's Police Attaché.
00:22:13 We're now on our way to our van that will take us to Mae Sot City.
00:22:19 This is the city in Thailand that has a border with Myanmar.
00:22:24 But before that, we'll first find our contacts who will join us in our rescue operation.
00:22:32 The 18 victims who will be rescued at the border between Thailand and Myanmar.
00:22:42 Before continuing to the target location, the team went to a place in Philand
00:22:49 to meet the Philippine Police Attaché, Colonel Dominador Matala.
00:22:55 Good thing you made it here.
00:22:57 When did the entry to Myanmar begin?
00:23:04 Our fellow Filipinos, the influx.
00:23:06 When the travel restrictions were lifted, that was the influx.
00:23:12 What happened was they grabbed the opportunity,
00:23:16 even the promise of "too good to be true" was paid by $1,000 to $2,000 a month.
00:23:25 Before, they needed more Chinese speaking.
00:23:30 These Scam Hubs, English speaking.
00:23:33 Now, Filipinos are easy to teach and can speak English.
00:23:40 Yes, hello.
00:23:44 While on the trip, Colonel Matala suddenly received a call.
00:23:48 Two Filipinos are asking for help.
00:23:52 Both of them are from Scam City in Myanmar.
00:23:57 We are in a parking lot.
00:23:59 Where is the parking lot?
00:24:00 How many of you are there? Are you with someone?
00:24:02 Yes, there are only two of us.
00:24:05 They were beaten by a Chinese employer in a parking lot in Bangkok
00:24:12 after paying a ransom in exchange for their freedom.
00:24:16 We were walking in the mountains.
00:24:19 We were on the main road.
00:24:22 Did you pay? How much did you pay for going to Bangkok?
00:24:25 We were paid P70,000. That was the travel expense.
00:24:29 After a more than 8-hour trip, the team arrived at Mae Sot District.
00:24:38 This is a river that was crossed by the victims.
00:24:42 Colonel Matala did not let them go down first.
00:24:44 There are lookouts in this area that are possibly connected to Scam City.
00:24:50 Actually, this Moi River that they are saying is very long.
00:24:55 Not everyone can guard it.
00:24:57 Both Thai border guards and Myanmar guards.
00:25:04 What is happening in those areas where our countrymen are fleeing?
00:25:10 How can they cross if they are not allowed to stay here?
00:25:13 They also have lookouts.
00:25:15 They will say that they can cross.
00:25:18 Those who are able to go out want to go home.
00:25:23 When they were probably saved,
00:25:30 the team went down to the safe house where the rescued victims were staying.
00:25:35 This is where the team saw the 18 of our countrymen who came from Scam City.
00:25:43 Among them, the couple Ruel and Cindy.
00:25:47 Like the other victims, they were also fooled and made scammers.
00:25:53 It is really consensual to do scams.
00:25:56 But we did not do anything. We were inside.
00:25:59 We were forced to do what our boss wanted because we were afraid of getting hurt.
00:26:06 They also experienced punishment inside Scam City.
00:26:11 How do you feel when you are being forced to work?
00:26:17 We were being pumped a minimum of 200 times.
00:26:20 We were really suffering because if it was only 50 or 100, it was already hard.
00:26:24 Now, it's 200.
00:26:27 Myanmar's government is unstable.
00:26:29 Their criminal activities are easy to do because the government is unstable.
00:26:37 There are factions of rebels who are now allying with the junta government.
00:26:48 With the help of Colonel Matalang,
00:26:51 they were able to get out of Scam City with other victims of human trafficking.
00:26:56 From Maysot District, they traveled back to Bangkok until they finally reached the Philippines.
00:27:18 From 2022 to now, almost 200 Filipinos were saved from Scam City in Myanmar.
00:27:31 The most shocking thing is that the Filipinos left there were almost 400.
00:27:38 The question is, why are there still victims?
00:27:43 Based on our investigation, the trafficking of victims started here in the Philippine airport.
00:27:52 In the investigation of the NBI,
00:27:56 the illegal trafficker and several people from the B.I. or Bureau of Immigration were arrested.
00:28:06 In January 2023, CCTV was obtained to find out how the Filipino recruitment was done abroad.
00:28:20 Based on the investigation, the recruiter said that the 6 victims went straight to the immigration officer's counter.
00:28:31 There are signs of when he will approach.
00:28:35 This is called "Sitting-Standing Mode".
00:28:40 In the video, you can see the sudden standing of the immigration officer in his cubicle at Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
00:28:50 When the immigration officer sits down, it is already a sign that the victim approached according to the NBI.
00:28:59 It is noteworthy that they were not asked, their passports were quickly scanned and stamped.
00:29:07 But when they arrived at the second screening, they were already blocked by the authorities.
00:29:15 The immigration officer filed a case of violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
00:29:23 These activities are not tolerated by our management.
00:29:29 Immediately, an investigation was ordered and the immigration officer involved was immediately charged.
00:29:35 In the Trafficking in Persons Report made by the U.S. State Department and released this year,
00:29:44 the administrative cases filed against immigration personnel involved in trafficking were up to 233.
00:29:54 But what is important is that even here in the Philippines, the Chinese Scamming Syndicate operates.
00:30:02 According to the NBI and PNP, they are making scammers from other countries in Asia,
00:30:13 such as Thailand, China, and Vietnam.
00:30:15 Just like Filipinos who experienced abuse in Myanmar,
00:30:20 in the Philippines, some foreign nationals who were made scammers experienced being beaten.
00:30:29 In this video, you can see a foreign woman being beaten like a bat.
00:30:39 In another video, you can see the repeated beating of a foreign victim.
00:30:44 The woman was forced to escape.
00:30:53 And when she arrived to the police, the rescue operation was immediately carried out.
00:31:00 You can also see the cans that the victim hit with his hands and feet.
00:31:08 His lips were also broken and there were bruises on his face and body.
00:31:12 Some Chinese were also arrested inside the house.
00:31:17 In the past months, thousands of victims were rescued by the authorities in some scam hubs in the country.
00:31:25 The largest was the raid in Las Pinas City where more than 3,000 scammers were made.
00:31:34 There were also some Filipinos, but most of them were foreigners.
00:31:39 Senior news correspondent, Emil Sumangil, was able to enter the buildings that served as scamming centers.
00:31:48 The ones inside the Pogo Hub are not less than 5 structures.
00:31:54 This is the first building, the ground floor.
00:31:57 That's where you can find what they call an entertainment complex.
00:32:02 This is where the workers go during their day off.
00:32:06 The workers don't have to go out because their amenities are already complete.
00:32:13 There's a medical clinic, dental clinic, and even a grocery store.
00:32:19 There's a market there and a mess hall where they eat.
00:32:25 It's like a food court.
00:32:28 I've already mentioned this to the police when the raid was not yet done.
00:32:33 They said it's very happy here.
00:32:35 The lights are on, it's very bright.
00:32:38 It's happy because there's a seafood market.
00:32:42 That's what you can see.
00:32:44 This is where the foreign workers gather.
00:32:48 There are also some Filipinos.
00:32:50 They hang out here.
00:32:52 They have their own market.
00:32:55 They don't have to go out because of their property.
00:32:58 Inside one of the buildings, you can see the dormitory of the victims.
00:33:07 The team also caught some of the victims while processing their papers in the Bureau of Immigration.
00:33:17 Just like what Ray and Isabel experienced when the foreign nationals were recruited as scammers.
00:33:25 In another scam hub, they showed us the computer used in the scam operations.
00:33:32 There's a script that's being followed.
00:33:34 There are also automatic replies to the scam victims.
00:33:39 You will be given a commission of P25, so you will get P175.
00:33:44 Then BAP2, P500.
00:33:49 So depending on how much you invest, you will get back the amount.
00:33:54 In another room, the cellphones connected to a computer server were seen.
00:34:04 There are also many SIM cards that are also used in scamming.
00:34:11 The victims who were rescued were sent back to their countries.
00:34:17 [Music]
00:34:20 Aside from selling their online contents, a successful sale of human organs is still alive.
00:34:29 Let me see your wound.
00:34:31 This is the scar that I first saw in 1999.
00:34:36 Kidneys for sale.
00:34:38 It's sad, but true.
00:34:41 Why is it not the same?
00:34:43 Why is there one on the right and one on the left?
00:34:46 The victims who sold their kidneys to me,
00:34:50 were shown their operation marks in exchange for P70,000.
00:34:57 Some of the kidney sellers I met in 1999,
00:35:04 were stabbed by our team in a baseco compound in Tondo, Manila.
00:35:15 I also met them for the first time.
00:35:17 Of course, monthly house rent.
00:35:20 What I did was, I was forced to remove the kidneys.
00:35:24 One of the people I interviewed was Lando Butastas,
00:35:28 or better known as Mang Kupaw.
00:35:31 Hello, can I see your father, Mang Kupaw?
00:35:38 He was paid P60,000 in exchange for his kidneys,
00:35:42 which he had his house built.
00:35:44 We didn't have a TV, so I bought karaoke speakers.
00:35:49 I also had my house repaired.
00:35:51 But the house caught fire in 2005.
00:35:56 That's why the money from the sale of stones went to the abo.
00:36:04 My neighbor told me that my kidneys were burnt.
00:36:07 My wife cried because sometimes the house catches fire.
00:36:12 Another kidney seller, Alex Esho,
00:36:21 we found out that he passed away in 2012.
00:36:25 He had a water leak.
00:36:28 He was cold and he was vomiting.
00:36:32 I took him to the hospital, but he refused to take his medicine.
00:36:34 At that time, there was no law that prohibited the sale of kidneys.
00:36:40 Kidney donation to hospitals was not regulated.
00:36:44 Until 2003, when the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act was passed,
00:36:50 where human trafficking would be considered as selling organs of a person,
00:36:56 like a kidney.
00:37:00 Fast forward to 2023,
00:37:02 this trend is just like a technology.
00:37:07 Because the sale of kidneys is now online.
00:37:11 According to the NKTI, or the National Kidney and Transplant Institute,
00:37:18 it is found that the number of Filipinos suffering from kidney disease is increasing.
00:37:26 That's why it's not surprising that many people are looking for donors.
00:37:31 On a social media platform, we discovered what is called a black market or illegal kidney sales.
00:37:43 You can see here some posts of people who want to be kidney donors.
00:37:49 But if you look closely, there are some kidney sellers here.
00:37:55 We met Tristan, 23 years old.
00:37:59 Last January, Tristan needed to pay for the house they bought.
00:38:06 The house? In the NHA? The payment is too high. 80,000.
00:38:10 Until he saw a post on social media that someone is looking for a kidney donor.
00:38:16 Tell us, how did you meet him?
00:38:18 I just met him on Facebook.
00:38:20 He posted that he needs a type O.
00:38:24 I commented, and he messaged me if I'm willing.
00:38:27 In the hospital, he talked to a woman whose name we hid in Rosalinda,
00:38:34 a kidney hunter or the middleman of the donor and the family of the patient in need.
00:38:42 Through Rosalinda, Tristan met his recipient.
00:38:48 The allocation for his kidney is 350,000 pesos.
00:38:54 Within a year, he had to go through various tests.
00:39:01 The recipient said that all the expenses for his laboratory tests were paid.
00:39:07 My recipient gives me money.
00:39:09 For my laboratory tests, I go twice a week.
00:39:14 They give me 1,000 pesos.
00:39:17 How did you know that this is from the recipient?
00:39:20 My recipient said that.
00:39:23 It is in the law that the donor should be related to the recipient.
00:39:32 That's why Tristan was taught by Rosalinda to lie and say that he is a recipient or patient.
00:39:41 What else did they teach you that you will answer in the interview?
00:39:46 When they asked me what my job is, I said I'm a helper.
00:39:49 That's what they taught me, not a deliveryman.
00:39:52 She said that I worked for them for two years.
00:39:56 She tried to back out of the interview, but Rosalinda threatened and threatened him.
00:40:05 She threatened me that she has political allies and she can kill them.
00:40:11 What did she threaten you with?
00:40:15 She wants to kill me.
00:40:16 She knows that we have our address.
00:40:19 What did she tell you?
00:40:21 She said that she can send me to your house and I will also be sent to the police.
00:40:25 Something like that.
00:40:27 What did you feel?
00:40:29 I was afraid because she said that she knows me.
00:40:31 She knows me well.
00:40:33 Before the operation, Tristan's parents also needed a form to be sent to the hospital.
00:40:42 But because her mother is an OFW, Rosalinda made her sign a form.
00:40:48 She made it a form. She just gave me the form.
00:40:51 How did you know that this is a form?
00:40:53 She told me that she will just give me my mother's form.
00:40:57 Despite the inside, Tristan's kidney was still taken by the police.
00:41:04 I'm nervous. What will happen?
00:41:08 My parents are not here. That's why I'm nervous.
00:41:11 I just lay down on the floor.
00:41:13 When I woke up, the kidney was gone.
00:41:16 The amount of money she received was not the amount of 350,000 pesos.
00:41:24 According to Rosalinda, the recipient or the patient paid 230,000 pesos.
00:41:31 But Rosalinda still deducted 50,000 pesos as a commission.
00:41:37 That's why Tristan's house was confiscated.
00:41:40 In exchange for her kidney, it was only 180,000 pesos.
00:41:45 The father of the recipient gave me 230,000 pesos.
00:41:49 He took it.
00:41:51 He stole it?
00:41:52 Yes, the money.
00:41:53 Then?
00:41:54 He took 50,000 pesos.
00:41:55 Did you go to the police?
00:41:56 No, sir.
00:41:57 Why?
00:41:58 Nothing. I was just scared.
00:42:01 Just two months passed, Tristan also spent all the money he paid.
00:42:07 But the long-term and possible effects of the operation
00:42:12 while he's alive will be seen and predicted.
00:42:15 Because a lot of things are changing.
00:42:17 Like the work.
00:42:20 I can't work anymore.
00:42:22 It's like there's a limit.
00:42:24 All the movements.
00:42:27 Tristan wants Rosalinda to pay and he's constantly doing things to fool people like her.
00:42:34 Like Tristan, who is also known by those whom we will call Jenny and Kevin,
00:42:41 an online agent who approached Rosalinda.
00:42:45 The amount they were charged was 250,000 pesos each in exchange for their kidney.
00:42:54 At that time, my father was sick.
00:42:57 He needed monthly maintenance.
00:43:01 Every three months, he needed to get water for his bone marrow.
00:43:06 I didn't have money to pay for it.
00:43:08 I thought it would be a big deal if I sold my kidney.
00:43:13 My father is a scavenger.
00:43:16 My mother is a laundry woman.
00:43:19 Of course, our family is not like that.
00:43:23 So you will really wonder what to do to change the state of life a little bit.
00:43:29 I didn't hesitate to do this.
00:43:33 I entered this.
00:43:35 They also passed some lab tests until they thought of backing out because of fear.
00:43:42 But like Tristan, they also received a warning from Rosalinda.
00:43:48 If you don't sign up, I can kill you outside even if we go out today.
00:43:54 It hurts because they are taking your blood.
00:43:57 As a donor, we should also get what is ours.
00:44:01 Because we are not just playing.
00:44:05 It's part of our body.
00:44:07 So it hurts that they are also fooling us.
00:44:13 Even the recipient, Jenny, didn't back out. She was also afraid.
00:44:18 I can kill you outside.
00:44:20 So I just signed up.
00:44:23 I was already there. I didn't know what would happen to me if I go out.
00:44:28 They were afraid of me.
00:44:30 They made me sign a letter that I will give my kidney.
00:44:39 We accompanied Tristan, Jenny, and Kevin to the NBI to ask for help.
00:44:45 They were also there as a complaint to the agent who approached them, Rosalinda.
00:44:51 We can't back out because we committed to her.
00:44:55 We will sell her kidney.
00:44:58 They were talked to by the NBI agent one by one.
00:45:02 I was just asking.
00:45:04 She was also hesitating.
00:45:07 When I went in, I was afraid because of her threats.
00:45:11 I was afraid that someone might follow me.
00:45:17 When did the threats start?
00:45:19 I already told the call.
00:45:23 When?
00:45:25 A month ago.
00:45:27 That same day, they formally filed a complaint against Rosalinda.
00:45:34 Our plan is to conduct an entrapment operation
00:45:37 on the very occasion that they will process our subjects.
00:45:43 The NBI asked for the next step to catch the so-called kidney hunter, Rosalinda.
00:45:54 Offline mango.
00:45:57 Why offline mango? Because the term of donors for kidneys is mango.
00:46:04 Because it's all mango.
00:46:06 This is about organ trafficking.
00:46:09 The NBI asked for an entrapment operation to catch Rosalinda and her subjects.
00:46:18 [music]
00:46:27 An NBI undercover agent joined Kevin and pretended to sell the kidney.
00:46:35 At the hospital, our team already caught the so-called right hand of Rosalinda,
00:46:41 who is Alyas Mary Ann.
00:46:45 But the target, Rosalinda, is yet to arrive.
00:46:49 We can see it in the video while Mary Ann is assisting Kevin in his laboratory test.
00:46:57 Mary Ann also talked to the NBI agent who pretended to be a donor.
00:47:04 She was asked if she wanted to donate a kidney and she will pay 250,000 pesos.
00:47:14 Then they are in charge of the documents that will be sent to her to be a kidney donor.
00:47:21 The operatives were waiting around and inside the hospital.
00:47:25 But Rosalinda is still not here.
00:47:28 After almost 6 hours, Rosalinda arrived.
00:47:34 She explained the process of selling the kidney.
00:47:41 What she didn't know is that her target is already an NBI undercover agent.
00:47:47 This is where the NBI entered and arrested Rosalinda and Mary Ann.
00:47:57 We caught you in the Anti-Trafficking In Persons Act.
00:48:03 The arrested people even went to the NBI.
00:48:06 We caught you.
00:48:09 You will be prosecuted.
00:48:11 You will be prosecuted here.
00:48:13 You will be prosecuted.
00:48:15 The following scenes became hot.
00:48:18 What are you doing?
00:48:20 Wait a minute.
00:48:22 I'm being arrested.
00:48:24 I'm being arrested.
00:48:26 In the end, Rosalinda and Mary Ann were helpless if they didn't join the authorities.
00:48:37 They were immediately brought to the NBI's office.
00:48:40 Rosalinda's defense is that she is just helping and the kidney donation is not worth a dime.
00:48:52 I'm not asking for anything, ma'am.
00:48:54 I'm not saying that they are not being given anything.
00:48:59 They are just giving their heart.
00:49:01 If they will be discharged,
00:49:06 they will be able to get some money but I'm not asking for anything.
00:49:09 I'm just helping.
00:49:13 I'm not asking for anything.
00:49:15 I'm not asking for anything.
00:49:18 But when our team asked if they know that what they are doing is prohibited.
00:49:25 Yes, but I'm not the one who is selling.
00:49:29 They are the ones who are doing it.
00:49:32 I'm not the one who is looking for them.
00:49:35 I'm not the one who is looking for them.
00:49:36 I don't know how to join Facebook.
00:49:38 I know how to join Facebook but I'm not the one who is looking for them.
00:49:42 Never.
00:49:44 If they are doing something like after surgery,
00:49:46 but we never said that you should give me P50, P100. Never.
00:49:51 The case of anti-trafficking in persons act,
00:49:56 Rosalinda and Mary Ann,
00:49:58 is facing a trial.
00:50:01 And if proven guilty in court,
00:50:03 they can be jailed for up to 20 years
00:50:07 to avoid the abuse and sale of kidney.
00:50:11 The DOH or Department of Health issued an administrative order
00:50:16 that the Ethics Committee is ordering
00:50:19 every hospital that is doing kidney transplant.
00:50:24 The mandate of the National Transplant Ethics Committee
00:50:29 is to develop ethical standards and guidelines
00:50:34 for organ donation to be approved by DOH.
00:50:38 The role of the National Transplant Ethics Committee is very important
00:50:41 so that they can discover
00:50:45 the traffickers,
00:50:49 the commercial donors in the guise of giving unrelated donation.
00:50:56 Despite this, many are still trying to sell their kidney
00:51:01 for a living.
00:51:04 What is more sad is that there are people who are abusing their needs.
00:51:14 The authority has already determined the identity of the cyber sex trafficker in Metro Manila.
00:51:22 The suspect, LJ, is the most wanted in the Philippines and in 8 other countries.
00:51:29 The NBI immediately initiated the entrapment and rescue operation.
00:51:33 [Phone ringing]
00:51:36 Later, the asset received a call from LJ.
00:51:41 Okay.
00:51:43 LJ, this is not...
00:51:45 This is not her.
00:51:47 This is not her.
00:51:50 I told you already, okay?
00:51:52 So this is the one that you promised?
00:51:54 Yes.
00:51:56 For now, just the two girls, okay?
00:51:59 LJ answered the call.
00:52:02 On the second call,
00:52:04 a child was sleeping with a bandage on her leg.
00:52:07 The next suspect,
00:52:09 on the third call from LJ to the asset,
00:52:12 confirmed that he was abusing a 5-year-old child, Chelsea.
00:52:18 The authority was then determined to carry out the rescue operation and arrest the suspect.
00:52:24 While the suspect was being arrested,
00:52:34 he suddenly threw a cellphone containing possible evidence against him.
00:52:40 Why did you throw the cellphone?
00:52:43 Did he throw a gadget?
00:52:47 Ah, here brother.
00:52:48 But he was immediately recovered by the authorities.
00:52:52 LJ was arrested.
00:52:56 Hello?
00:52:58 Here, look.
00:52:59 Ah, he called me.
00:53:03 I know that I did something wrong.
00:53:06 What kind of child is this?
00:53:08 She's just my friend.
00:53:10 I didn't do anything to her.
00:53:12 I just held her.
00:53:14 I'm just being honest.
00:53:17 I'm sorry if I did something like this.
00:53:19 I had no choice.
00:53:21 I'm sorry if I did something that could have led to this.
00:53:24 I'm sorry for that.
00:53:26 How are the parents of the children?
00:53:29 They know that I did something wrong.
00:53:31 I'm just being honest.
00:53:34 While the suspect was being arrested,
00:53:40 Chelsea was held by the child.
00:53:42 She's not his real name.
00:53:45 Mama, Mama.
00:53:46 I can't do that.
00:53:48 The child is confused.
00:53:50 He doesn't fully understand what's happening.
00:53:53 Mama, I can't do that.
00:53:55 I can't do that.
00:53:57 Later, his mother came.
00:54:00 Her name is Rochelle.
00:54:02 She's not his real name.
00:54:04 It's been a long time.
00:54:06 I was shocked when he came out like that.
00:54:08 I didn't know that he did that again.
00:54:11 The video was with him.
00:54:14 I won't do that again.
00:54:15 I promise.
00:54:17 The mother denied that she was involved in the abuse of her child.
00:54:22 But aside from that,
00:54:24 we also found evidence that proves that there are new videos of the child
00:54:31 that was sold by Melchor Santos.
00:54:34 She still let her child stay with Melchor Santos when we arrested her.
00:54:43 She was not involved in the abuse of her child.
00:54:44 It doesn't matter if it's just one video.
00:54:48 What's important is that she was with him when the crime happened.
00:54:51 She was with him when the crime was committed.
00:54:53 Eljay and Rochelle were immediately brought to the NBI.
00:54:57 Melchor, alias Eljay, is facing charges of anti-online sexual abuse
00:55:04 or exploitation of children,
00:55:06 anti-trafficking in persons act of 2003,
00:55:11 and special protection of children against abuse,
00:55:13 exploitation and discrimination act.
00:55:16 Our facilitator in this case,
00:55:19 there are a lot of materials that were stolen or she made a lot of materials and distributed.
00:55:26 So many children were used in her videos and photos that she distributed.
00:55:33 Violation of anti-rape law,
00:55:36 Rochelle was charged with fighting her mother.
00:55:40 The mother used other things to assault her child.
00:55:46 A few days after the operation,
00:55:50 I visited the place where the suspect Eljay was secretly operated.
00:55:56 If you look at this place, it's just like our typical barangay in the city.
00:56:04 There are children on the streets, houses, the streets are narrow.
00:56:11 But according to the knowledge of many, even the residents here,
00:56:16 in one of the houses here, there is a robbery that is happening.
00:56:22 And the victim is a child who is being raped.
00:56:30 We accompanied the barangay captain to the house where Eljay lives.
00:56:36 This is our target area, which has also become the target area of the authorities
00:56:40 that a raid was conducted here against the suspect.
00:56:45 Here in this area, the victim was caught and raped.
00:56:51 So this is where the cybersex operations are happening.
00:56:59 Their setup looks very simple.
00:57:02 Before this, did you have any idea that something was happening here?
00:57:07 We had no idea because this place is very quiet
00:57:11 and we did not have any incident where we could get any information,
00:57:15 even if it was any kind of situation.
00:57:17 That's why we were surprised when the NBI came to us
00:57:21 that they have a target child to rape.
00:57:27 How can the captain be sure that there is something happening here that is not good?
00:57:36 Because from the outside, it looks like it's typical in the houses here.
00:57:41 Yes, you know the technology now, you have 50 pesos of data.
00:57:46 It's very easy to upload pictures and any other video calls.
00:57:55 This place is the center of a big city.
00:58:06 It's not a quiet place for people to not know that
00:58:13 they have committed such sexual acts.
00:58:19 It's not right what he did. That's what makes us wonder and amazes us
00:58:25 that this happened in the city.
00:58:29 He used a dog and he raped the child.
00:58:37 That's all we can say.
00:58:39 It's hard to say because I don't want to look at it.
00:58:44 I'm thinking of our youth here that I hope that such an incident won't happen.
00:58:50 Bestiality is hard to describe.
00:58:55 But not everyone should do such acts.
00:59:02 The Philippines has been monitoring for a long time because it's a hot spot
00:59:09 for what they call OSEC or Online Sexual Exploitation of Children.
00:59:15 In simple words, child sexual exploitation.
00:59:19 According to UNICEF, 80% of the youth in the Philippines
00:59:26 or 8 out of 10 are vulnerable or could be victims of online sexual abuse.
00:59:35 While 2.5% of the youth have become victims of cyber sex
00:59:41 where they spread their sensitive images on the internet.
00:59:46 Based on the results of their studies, from 2010 to 2020,
00:59:52 the Philippines is leading in the most number of case referrals of OSEC in the world.
01:00:01 It's eight times higher than other countries like Mexico and Brazil.
01:00:08 According to the data from the Trafficking in Persons Report by the US State Department,
01:00:15 in 2022, the number of human trafficking victims rescued by the government in the Philippines reached 1,277.
01:00:27 115 sex traffickers were already charged and 24 forced labor traffickers were already charged.
01:00:36 86 traffickers were found guilty.
01:00:42 It's a crime of opportunity and the opportunity is there for them to commit the crime
01:00:47 and the motivation is there, the financial motivation is there for the Filipinos to commit this crime.
01:00:56 They cannot cover themselves with technology or online to cover their illegal activities.
01:01:05 We will teach them and we will teach them.
01:01:07 According to the report, the Philippines is still in Tier 1.
01:01:12 It means that the government is reaching the minimum standard for the elimination of human trafficking.
01:01:20 But this battle is still long.
01:01:23 [Music]
01:01:27 One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
01:01:31 Chelsea will stay in a shelter while going through a healing process.
01:01:38 The child needs to go to the remote world where he was brought.
01:01:44 We turned our victim over to a social worker for proper intervention
01:01:52 and to guide the child in his recovery.
01:01:55 It's a vast and complicated issue.
01:01:59 Human trafficking is a long-term problem not only in the Philippines but in the whole world.
01:02:09 This is a serious issue that the parents of the community should continue to focus on
01:02:21 especially the government.
01:02:23 Because of the issue of human trafficking,
01:02:26 there is only one thing that is certain.
01:02:32 No one should fall into this trap.
01:02:39 With Emil Sumangil and John Consulta, I am Jessica Soho and this is Secret Slaves.
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