Filipino Authorities Bring Down Notorious Online Predator

Thanks to a quick-thinking netizen, authorities were able to arrest and convict a man who had been exploiting minors online and in person.

In May 2023, a concerned citizen reached out to the Philippine National Police (PNP) via one of their Facebook pages, reporting Teddy Jay Mejia for suspicious activities. Investigations revealed that Mejia was involved in producing and selling child sexual abuse materials. Shockingly, he used these photos to threaten victims into sending more content, even going as far as threatening their families.

But it didn’t end there. Mejia also trafficked some of his victims, subjecting them to physical abuse. Over 100 individuals from different parts of the country were victimized by his operations, according to authorities.

At the time the investigation began, Mejia was living in Dubai. Still, this did not stop Philippine authorities from tracking him down and bringing him back to face justice. Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad of the PNP’s Women and Children Protection Center stressed that no criminal can escape the law, especially with the dedication of their trained officers.

Mejia was charged with multiple offenses: 11 cases of human trafficking and 15 violations under laws protecting children from online sexual exploitation and abuse. His cases were filed separately in Regional Trial Courts in Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya.

From February 17 to March 17, 2025, different courts found Mejia guilty after he pleaded to lesser charges. Altogether, he was sentenced to over 400 years behind bars and was ordered to pay ₱10 million in fines and damages.

The courts also convicted several of his customers, showing that those who supported the exploitation were held accountable as well.

Regional Prosecutor Rommel Baligod shared that Mejia’s conviction highlights the government’s strong stance against human trafficking and online abuse. He emphasized that when communities and authorities work together, there’s no safe place left for criminals like Mejia to hide.

(via Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking)