RCMP officer meets Filipino kids he helped save from abuse

A Saskatchewan RCMP investigator who helped convict a sex offender who was paying mothers in the Philippines to abuse their children, was able to meet some of the kids he saved last week.

Cpl. Jared Clarke from the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit travelled to the country to provide expert testimony in the trial of a woman allegedly paid by Philip Chicoine to abuse children while he watched via video link.

Chicoine, 28, received the longest sentence for child pornography in Saskatchewan history in November, when he was handed 12 years behind bars on 40 charges.

RCMP said in a release Thursday that Clarke continued to work with Filipino authorities after Chicoine was arrested to find and rescue the abused children.

When Clarke was in Leyte province last week, a meeting was set up with 26 children and their support workers.

“I am also thankful that during my time there, I was afforded the rare and rewarding experience of meeting victims rescued as a result of (international) child exploitation investigations,” Clarke said in the release.

A dinner was shared between Clarke, other RCMP members, the children and Filipino law enforcement as a bonding experience.

“The group was able to enjoy Yum Burgers and Jollibee Spaghetti (a Filipino cuisine) for the children,” the statement said.

“The end result was a very messy, but happy group of kids.”