DIOSDADA MANALO SENTENCED IN ASHFORD FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Ashford, a man named Diosdada Manalo has been convicted and sentenced for heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of a young child and the possession of explicit images of minors. The case came to light after police investigations uncovered a pattern of criminal activity linked to Manalo, who was 52 years old at the time of his arrest.

In July 2013, authorities executed a search warrant at Manalo's residence on Hythe Road, following suspicions that indecent images of children were being accessed via the internet from that address. The police raid was part of a broader effort to combat online child exploitation, and during the initial investigation, Manalo refused to cooperate, choosing silence over answering questions. As a result, he was released on bail while further inquiries were conducted to establish the extent of his involvement.

It was not until January of the following year that Manalo finally admitted to downloading child abuse images. During a subsequent interview, he revealed that he had been carrying a heavy burden for years, which he claimed drove him to access such material. His confession shed light on his secret life, which included a disturbing history of abuse. Specifically, it was revealed that in 2008, while residing in Cambridgeshire, he had sexually assaulted a six-year-old boy. After this incident, Manalo returned to his homeland, the Philippines, where he continued to conceal his criminal activities.

Manalo faced multiple serious charges, including five counts of possessing indecent images of children, three counts of creating such images, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and sexual assault on a young boy. He pleaded guilty to all charges, acknowledging his guilt before the court. On the day of sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court, the judge handed down a prison term of four years and nine months, reflecting the gravity of his crimes.

Detective Constable Mark Bennett, a member of the Kent Police paedophile and online investigation team, expressed relief that the investigation had successfully uncovered the extent of Manalo's misconduct. He emphasized the importance of victim support and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to identify and protect children from online exploitation. Detective Bennett also highlighted the challenges victims face in coming forward and urged anyone who has been affected by similar crimes to seek help. He assured the public that police are committed to pursuing justice and bringing offenders like Manalo to account, regardless of where they are in the world.