Thirteen Australians are charged over vile child abuse ring as cops rescue almost 100 kids allegedly being held by predators in the Philippines
Australian Federal Police have arrested 13 Australians allegedly linked to child sex abuse in the Philippines.
- A total of 92 children were rescued in the Philippines
- 13 Australians were arrested for alleged involvement
By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA
Published: 10:02 GMT, 28 December 2025 | Updated: 10:20 GMT, 28 December 2025
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Nearly 100 children have been rescued from harm in the Philippines following a lengthy international sting operation aimed at catching child predators.
The Australian Federal Police released concerning figures regarding the investigations conducted throughout 2025, which included multiple arrests made in Australia linked to child abuse rings in the Philippines.
The AFP on Sunday night said through cooperation with foreign authorities a total of 92 children were rescued from sex abuse in the Philippines and 18 alleged facilitators were arrested. Of those children rescued, Australian authorities were directly involved in the removal of 40 children from harmful situations and had charged 13 Australians.
Australia was one of three nations involved in the crackdown on child exploitation in the Philippines, alongside the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Investigators said one of the reasons Australians are major offenders the these types of syndicates in the Philippines is because of the similar time zone and that direct flights are available from most Australian capital cities.
Other contributing factors include the presence of a large English-speaking population in the Philippines and the strength of the Australian dollar compared to the local economy.
AFP Detective Sergeant Leesa Alexander, based at the AFP's outpost in Manila, warned offenders that police would continue to catch and dismantle their networks.
'It is horrific how many Australian criminals are helping to drive this vile demand in the Philippines for offenders to abuse innocent children,' Det Sgt Alexander said.
A total of 92 children have been rescued from sex abuse operations in the Philippines in 2025, leading to the arrests of 13 Australians
Australia is one of three countries that works closely with Filipino authorities to prevent and stop child sex abuse
'The AFP and international partners are committed to targeting these crimes, protecting children and putting offenders before court.
'Child abuse is abhorrent and can leave victims with a lifelong burden.'
In one disturbing case earlier this month, 11 children were removed from three alleged abuse facilitators in the Philippines.
A Wangaratta man, 43, was allegedly found to be in possession of child abuse material by officers upon his arrival at Melbourne Airport in September.