Six children saved in the Philippines after a probe linked to a Western Australian man charged with child abuse-related offences

By SARAH BROOKES - SENIOR REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 03:55, 26 June 2026 | Updated: 03:55, 26 June 2026 Six children were saved from suspected exploitation in the Philippines after an investigation into a Western Australian man accused of child abuse-related offences.  The 53-year-old man, from Albany, was intercepted by the Australian Border Force (ABF) after landing at Perth Airport from the south-east Asian country on March 26.  When officers examined his baggage including a mobile phone, they detected alleged child abuse material. ABF officials also found communications with a Filipino resident believed to be facilitating the procurement of children, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege. The AFP compiled intelligence and shared it with the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center, including details about the suspected local facilitator. Philippine National Police (PNP) then conducted a series of operations to recover the six children who were believed to have been exploited. The Albany man first appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on March 27, charged with five offences. He is accused of two counts of engaging in conduct in relation to a child under 16 with the intention of procuring the child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia. The maximum penalty for each offence is 15 years’ imprisonment. Police in the Philippines carried out a series of operations to locate and rescue children believed to have been exploited  Six children have been removed from harm in the Philippines An Australian man at the centre of an international probe will face court on Friday The 53-year-old is also charged with two counts of accessing child abuse material, each carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail.  He is also accused of one count of doing an act to prepare for an offence involving sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia. The maximum penalty is 10 years' imprisonment. The man is due to reappear in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday. ABF Inspector John Sweet said Australia's border controls played a crucial role in disrupting the spread of child abuse material and protecting vulnerable children. 'Digital examinations conducted by our highly trained officers can detect and disrupt the activities of offenders who orchestrate these abhorrent crimes both online and internationally,' he said. 'ABF has zero tolerance for the importation, possession or distribution of child abuse material. 'As this case demonstrates, behind every image is a real child who has been exploited.' PNP Women and Children Protection Centre chief Sheila Portento said every child rescued was 'a life protected and a future restored'. 'This successful operation... demonstrates that through close coordination and exceptional intelligence sharing among law enforcement and our partner agencies, we can effectively protect victims and remove them from situations of abuse and exploitation,' she said. 'We remain steadfast in our mission to ensure that no child is left behind in our fight against online sexual abuse or exploitation of children.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.