{"id":14046,"date":"2023-07-06T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.destinyrescue.org\/?p=14046"},"modified":"2023-07-03T10:27:10","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T15:27:10","slug":"an-agent-reflects-on-rescuing-a-toddler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.destinyrescue.org\/blog\/an-agent-reflects-on-rescuing-a-toddler\/","title":{"rendered":"An Agent Reflects on Rescuing a Toddler"},"content":{"rendered":"
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James recalled the tension in the air while waiting hours to meet with a human trafficker. But it wasn\u2019t the inherent danger that the rescue agent feared the most or even the natural anxiety that comes with meeting a criminal face to face.<\/span><\/h5>\n
James\u2019s biggest fear was that the perpetrator wouldn\u2019t show up at all.<\/span><\/h5>\n

Befriending a monster<\/span><\/h2>\n

It all began when our team in the Philippines was contacted for help with a case. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Filipino equivalent of the FBI, wanted our help with what turned out to be our first experience with <\/span>OSEC<\/span><\/a>, or internet-based child exploitation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A 3-year-old boy was being sexually abused<\/span><\/a> by his father in front of a camera. Pedophiles paid the man, who we\u2019ll call Edwin, to perform despicable acts on his child as they watched on computer screens thousands of miles away.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The rescued toddler playing while in the Philippines\u2019 Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) care after the raid.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\u201cThe operation demanded immense dedication and perseverance, consuming weeks of relentless effort,\u201d James recalled.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But the day had finally come.<\/span><\/p>\n

James had spent months building a rapport with Edwin, maneuvering around the criminal\u2019s cold temperament to gain his trust. All that work culminated in a single day.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the hotel<\/span><\/h2>\n

James was part of a team of agents and police that planned to rescue the poor child. He\u2019d arranged to meet Edwin in a hotel lobby across town where police would make the arrest. \u201cThe entire vicinity was meticulously secured, with a strong undercover police presence and numerous undercover rescue agents discreetly positioned throughout the hotel lobby,\u201d James said.<\/span><\/p>\n

But all that preparation would be for nothing if Edwin didn\u2019t show up.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Surveillance video gathered by Destiny Rescue Philippines agents working on this case<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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As time passed, James began to fear they\u2019d lose their chance to rescue the toddler. \u201cHour after hour passed as we maintained a vigilant watch,\u201d James said.\u201d[Edwin] grew increasingly suspicious and began insisting on video calls and assurances that I was not affiliated with law enforcement.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the tension grew, so did James\u2019s worry: \u201c… doubts crept in, and at one moment, I feared that he might not show up.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That was James\u2019s worst-case scenario. If Edwin got wind of the operation, he might go to ground\u2014sever all communication and disappear into hiding. Worse, he might harm his son or take the child with him to continue the abuse from a new location, setting the rescue operation back and subjecting the child to months more of horrifying abuse.<\/span><\/p>\n

As these fears assailed him, James knew he needed backup. <\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cIn that moment of uncertainty, I found myself on my knees, praying to God for justice to prevail,\u201d James recalled. \u201cMy plea was for swift intervention as I yearned for the innocent child’s liberation from the clutches of evil.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Shortly after his heartfelt prayer, Edwin sent a text with only two words:\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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I’m here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The meeting<\/span><\/h2>\n

It was go-time. As an undercover agent posing as a sex buyer, it was James\u2019s job to make contact with Edwin. Once police confirmed that Edwin was exploiting his 3-year-old for money, they could swoop in and make the arrest. But first, James had to play the part of a child predator.<\/span><\/p>\n

Preparing to make contact, James boarded the elevator and descended into the lobby. It didn\u2019t take him long to spot Edwin:<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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As I emerged, my eyes locked onto the suspect, hand in hand with his innocent son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The men took a seat on a bench\u2014Edwin\u2019s jovial speech and nonchalance in stark contrast to the dark intentions of their meeting. Finally, Edwin handed his small, innocent son over to James.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That was the signal police had been waiting for. \u201cThen, to my immense relief, a surge of law enforcement officers and rescue agents appeared, surrounding us,\u201d James said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The officers arrested Edwin while James gently passed the trembling child over to a female social worker. The poor boy, who\u2019d endured so much, was finally safe.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

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See the moment of rescue<\/span><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Every child we rescue is a precious soul, beloved by God, each with their own tragic story of trauma, rescue and restoration. James said this child\u2019s poignant story \u201cwill forever stay etched in my memory.\u201d Because his mother was complicit in the scheme, this young boy has a hard road ahead as he navigates life with a new family. But it\u2019s a life free from exploitation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read about the exciting new tool we\u2019re using to combat OSEC<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Our dedicated team of rescuers can only do their vital work because our donors enable them to. Please consider joining James in helping rescue children from exploitation. To save a child, complete the form below.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n