Ninety-two children have been removed from harm and 18 alleged child exploitation facilitators in the Philippines charged in 2025, as a result of investigations coordinated by the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC).
PICACC is the enhanced global response against online child sexual exploitation, and has cooperation from law enforcement in The Philippines, Australia, United Kingdom, and The Netherlands.
The AFP refers matters into PICACC, to then be allocated to Philippines National Police (PNP) or the Philippines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
PICACC undertook 35 operations this year which led to 92 victims removed from harm and the arrest of 18 alleged facilitators of child abuse in the Philippines.
Of these operations, AFP-led investigations resulted in 40 children being removed from harm and also resulted in charges against 13 Australians.
AFP Detective Sergeant Leesa Alexander, who is based at the AFP's Post in Manila, said the collaboration between the AFP and international partners was crucial for removing children from harm.
"It is horrific how many Australian criminals are helping to drive this vile demand in the Philippines for offenders to abuse innocent children, and the AFP and international partners are committed to targeting these crimes, protecting children and putting offenders before court," Det Sgt Alexander said.
"Child abuse is abhorrent and can leave victims with a lifelong burden."
Since its inception in February 2019, PICACC has undertaken 324 operations which led to 865 victims removed from harm and charges against 187 people.
Of these, 77 people were charged, and 315 victims were removed from harm in the Philippines due to AFP investigations.
It is suspected Australians are major offenders in the Filipino child abuse trade due to similar time zones and direct flights from most Australian capital cities.
The Philippines also has a large English-speaking population and excellent internet infrastructure, enabling perpetrators to easily communicate with facilitators online.
In addition, Australia is a wealthy country where offenders pay for child abuse material from facilitators, who extort children as an income stream.
AFP Commander Human Exploitation, Helen Schneider, said law enforcement efforts to zero in on Australian-based offenders would not stop.
"We will continue our fight to keep children safe from those who try to exploit or abuse them," Commander Schneider said.
"Every action online is traceable, and offenders who think they can outsmart law enforcement online should think again.
"We will continue to identify those exploiting children for their disgusting gratification.
"AFP investigators and the Philippine National Police have a strong partnership that is crucial to targeting offenders and putting them before the courts.
"Let me be clear - just because the offending may not happen in Australia, we will still find you."
Philippine National Police Chief of the Women and Children's Protection Centre, Brigadier General Sheila Portento, said keeping children safe was everybody's responsibility.
"We need communities to be involved in reporting cases and let us do our part to address the abuse so somebody will be held accountable for their actions," Brigadier General Portento said.
"The partnership between PNP and AFP is crucial to removing children from harm.
"We will put offenders and facilitators before court, regardless of the country they are in."
2025 case studies (in chronological order):
January
Six children were removed from harm in the Philippines after an investigation into a Northern Territory man that began on New Years Day.
The man, now 69, was searched at Darwin Airport by ABF officers who allegedly found child abuse material on the man's phone upon his return from an international trip.
Forensic examination of the phone uncovered alleged sexually explicit videos and images of children, as well as video calls from the man to facilitators in the Philippines instructing them to livestream sexual abuse of children as young as six.
The Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET), comprising members of AFP and Northern Territory police, investigated further and executed a search warrant at Dinah Beach in Darwin.
The Darwin man appeared in court in 7 January, 2025, and was remanded in custody.
NT JACET provided information to AFP members in Manila, which led to an investigation by Philippines National Police (PNP). In April, 2025, PNP arrested two Philippine nationals and removed six children from harm.
On 10 December, 2025, the NT man pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Three counts of sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia, contrary to section 272.8(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 30 years' imprisonment; and
- Sexual activity with a child outside Australia, contrary to section 272.9(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 years' imprisonment;
Arrest vision of this man is available via Hightail.
February
A West Australian man, 74, was sentenced to 23 years' imprisonment for sexually abusing three children overseas, and a further 12 - also not in Australia - over the internet between 2013 and 2022.
The North Fremantle man has been ordered to serve a non-parole period of 17 years' imprisonment.
Investigations into the man began in November, 2022, when ABF officers found child abuse material on his phone after he arrived in Perth on a flight from the Philippines.
The Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) executed a search warrant at a property and storage facility, where electronic devices were seized from both locations.
A forensic examination of the devices identified photographs and videos of the man sexually abusing children.
AFP officers in Manila provided information to PICACC about the suspected identities of the Philippines-based child abuse facilitators.
The Philippines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) investigated those leads and removed a young girl from harm and arrested her parents in the city of Mabalacat, north of Manila.
The parents were both sentenced to 27 years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts each of attempted trafficking in persons.
In March, 2024, the North Fremantle man pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Seven counts of persistent sexual abuse of a child under 16, contrary to section 272.11 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Two counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with a child under 16 outside Australia, contrary to section 272.8(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Three counts of causing a child under 16 to engage in sexual intercourse in the presence of the accused, contrary to section 272.8(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 16 outside Australia, contrary to section 272.9(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Two counts of causing a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity in the presence of the accused, contrary to section 272.9(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Six counts of engaging in conduct intending to procure a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, contrary to section 272.14 of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of producing child exploitation material, contrary to section 218 of Criminal Code (WA).
May
An Alice Springs man, 28, was charged with nine offences including alleged sexual intercourse with a child under 10, gross indecency with a child under 14, and three counts of producing child abuse material.
Northern Territory and AFP JACET members executed a search warrant at a property and seized mobile phones, computers, storage devices, children's clothing and bedding.
Forensic examination of the electronic devices showed the man allegedly communicating with someone from the Philippines via social media.
AFP officers in Manila provided information about the suspected identity of the Philippines-based user to PICACC, which was investigated by Philippines National Police (PNP).
In July, PNP executed a search warrant in the Zamboanga del Norte region, which resulted in the arrest of a woman and the removal of a boy and girl from harm.
The man is currently before the courts facing the following charges:
- One count of possessing child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment;
- One count of accessing child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment;
- One count of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment;
- Three counts of producing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.23 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maxim penalty of 15 years' imprisonment;
- One count of sexual intercourse with a child under 16, contrary to section 208J of the Criminal Code (NT). This offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment;
- Two counts of gross indecency with a child under 14, contrary to section 208JB of the Criminal Code (NT). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 16 years' imprisonment.
Images relating to this matter are available via Hightail.
September
A child was removed from harm in the Philippines and a man from Geraldton, WA, was charged with 10 child abuse offences, including sexual intercourse with a child under 16.
Police allege the man, 59, communicated with overseas-based victims and other individuals online to meet minors and engage in sexual activity in the Philippines. It is also alleged the man paid overseas facilitators for child abuse material.
AFP officers in Manila provided information to PICACC about the suspected identities of the Philippines-based child abuse facilitators.
The Philippines National Police (PNP) investigated those leads and remove a child from harm in the city of Taguig. A woman known to the child was charged by the PNP.
The Geraldton man is charged with:
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment;
- Two counts of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to himself, contrary to section 474.22(1)(ii) of the Criminal Code 1995(Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment;
- One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment;
- Two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 16, contrary to section 50BA of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 17 years' imprisonment; and
- Seven counts of committing an act of indecency on a child under 16, contrary to section 50BC of the Crimes Act (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 12 years' imprisonment.
November
In November, 2025, the Philippine National Police (PNP) removed three children from harm and arrested a woman known to them, after an investigation linked to a Victorian man, now 52, who is serving a prison sentence.
AFP investigations began in November 2021 into the Seaford man who engaged in sexual activity with children in the Philippines via video chats with a facilitator.
Items seized from a search warrant at a Seaford property included electronic devices and written messages requesting child abuse material, which he would hold to the camera while on video chats.
In January, 2025, the man was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to 27 charges:
- 18 counts of using a carriage service to procure person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.26(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Three counts of encouraging offence against this Division, contrary to section 272.19 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Two counts of using carriage service to transmit, make available, publish or distribute child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Possess or control child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Engaging in sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) with child outside Australia, contrary to section 272.9(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- Persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia under subsection 272.9(1), contrary to section 272.11(1)(c) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The man must serve a non-parole period of six years and six months' imprisonment.
The children were removed from harm in the province of Agusan del Norte after a referral by the AFP to PICACC was accepted by PNP.
Images and vision of PNP arresting the woman is available via Hightail. Images and vision of the search warrant at a Seaford property is also available via Hightail.
December
Eleven children were removed from harm and three facilitators charged by Philippines National Police (PNP) that followed a joint investigation sparked by AFP intelligence.
The matter began in September, 2025, when ABF members searched a Wangaratta man, 43, upon his arrival at Melbourne Airport from overseas and allegedly found him in possession of child abuse material.
The Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET), comprising AFP and Victoria Police members, executed a search warrant at a Wangaratta home on 1 October, 2025, and seized electronic devices and printed images allegedly depicting child abuse material.
Forensic examination of the electronic devices allegedly identified online chats with people in the Philippines facilitating the live stream abuse of children and alleged payment transfers to facilitators.
The man was charged with:
- One count of using a carriage service to possess child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iv) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
The matter and intelligence were referred to PNP for investigation. On 5 December, 2025, PNP executed search warrants at three properties in Mati City, Davao Oriental and 11 children were removed from harm as a result.
Two women and one man were arrested by PNP for offences against the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act.
Vision and imagery of PNP arresting a facilitator in the Philippines is available via Hightail. Imagery of police executing the search warrant in Wangaratta is also available via Hightail.
AFP and the ACCCE
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
