Two children have been removed from harm in the Philippines and two adults charged, after an investigation sparked by intelligence from Philippine authorities and the AFP.
The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a woman and man for alleged child sexual abuse offences and took two children known to them into care after executing search warrants on the island of Mindanao in early December, 2025.
The NBI had investigated allegations the woman was communicating via an online messaging app with a man in New South Wales about sexually abusing children and live-streaming the exploitation online.
The investigation which led to this outcome began back in June, 2024, when the NBI arrested another woman allegedly sexually abusing her children and live-streaming the offending to paying customers.
NBI and AFP officers in Manila examined the woman's phone and allegedly found messages between her and the NSW man about child sexual abuse.
Information provided by the NBI from this arrest helped the AFP identify the NSW man. Child protection investigators allegedly found the similar messages when they examined one of his electronic devices and charged him with online child exploitation offences in late 2024.
AFP investigators in NSW alerted AFP officers based in Manila, who provided the new intelligence about the Mindanao woman to their Philippine counterparts. This resulted in four children being removed from harm.
AFP Manila Liaison Officer Detective Sergeant Leesa Alexander said the cases highlighted what law enforcement agencies could achieve by sharing information and working together.
"The AFP, NBI and other partners in the Philippines are united in our commitment to protect children and are working tirelessly together to ensure anyone who tries to harm them is brought before the courts," Det Sgt Alexander said.
"No one can remain anonymous online, including offenders. Even if you communicate from different countries - the AFP and its partners have the skills and resources to identify alleged offenders and put them before the courts.
"Children are not commodities to be used for adults' sexual gratification, and we will do whatever we can to keep children safe, no matter where they live."
Attorney Yehlen Agus, Chief of the NBI Violence Against Women and Children Division said the success of this operation is a testament to collaboration amongst local and international law enforcement agencies.
"The sharing of intelligence across jurisdictions resulted in these two children being freed from further harm and exploitation," Attorney Agus said.
"But the work does not stop here. We will continue to share intelligence with our partners to identify more offenders and safeguard more victims, not just here in the Philippines but all over the world."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the 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.
