Ontario man accused of directing livestreamed sexual abuse of kids in the Philippines

A Hamilton man faces more than 100 charges stemming from a global investigation into the livestreamed sexual abuse of children.

RCMP Cpl. Philippe Gravel says customers around the world paid to watch abuse in the Philippines unfold online and direct it in real time.

Police allege the accused paid for and directed the abuse, which was livestreamed by a facilitator in the Philippines.

Toronto police say authorities in the Philippines arrested the facilitator and rescued four children in October 2025 after an investigation involving law enforcement agencies around the globe.

That arrest brought forth new information about the 42-year-old Hamilton man, who had already been under investigation for seven months.

Police say he was arrested in March and charged with six offences for allegedly accessing and possessing child sexual abuse materials and making arrangements for others to sexually assault minors.

Police announced more than 100 additional charges for similar offences on Wednesday after they investigated the man further, bringing the accused’s total charges to more than 130.

Det. Michael Sabadin says police believe there are more than 50 victims who have yet to be identified.

Kathryn Mannie, The Canadian Press