A Filipino child trafficker, accused of sexually exploiting over 100 children in the Philippines, was arrested in the UAE and is set to be extradited, according to Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. In an announcement on his official Facebook page, Abalos expressed gratitude for the cooperation between the UAE and the Philippines, emphasizing that this arrest is a significant victory in the fight against human trafficking.
The unnamed suspect allegedly sold photos and videos of the young victims online and was arrested after Interpol issued a Red Notice. Abalos described the arrest as a powerful message to those exploiting minors, stating, “You have no safe haven; wherever you go, you will surely face the law and justice will prevail.”
The victims, some of whom were rescued across multiple regions of the Philippines, highlight the scale of the crimes. This arrest follows a history of successful extradition cooperation between the UAE and the Philippines, including the 2016 arrest of Filipino drug lord Kerwin Espinosa in Abu Dhabi.
Abalos has been active in addressing high-profile criminal cases, including the recent arrest of a Philippine pastor wanted for child sex trafficking. During his visit to the UAE, Abalos met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and extended greetings from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., reinforcing the strong ties between the two nations.
