The national government has intensified its campaign against online sexual exploitation of children and cyber pornography that exploits minors.
On Tuesday, Aug. 23, the government held an inter-agency press conference against online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) along with the United States Homeland Security and the country’s envoy to the United Nations.
“Kaya nagsama-sama rito ay upang iparamdam sa mamamayan natin ang pangangailangang sugpuin natin ang mga krimen na ginagawa sa ating kabataan sa pamamagitan ng internet at sa pamamagitan mismo ng face-to-face,” Department of Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said.
Citing data from international agencies, Remulla said the country is leading in terms of OSEC cases.
“Alam na ng buong mundo ito halos. The law enforcement agencies around the world know this, that tayo talaga ang favorite place ng mga ganito, these perverts who like exploiting children,” he said.
“It’s not a source of pride, it’s a source of shame, that’s why we want to end this. Dapat tumigil na ito,” he added.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said they were able to receive 278 referrals, conduct about 250 OSEC-related police operations including arrests since 2019, and file 225 cases against perpetrators. A total of 71 suspects have been convicted since 2016.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. defined OSEC as “the mere production for the purpose of online publication of sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor in exchange for compensation,” and child pornography as any representation “of a child engaged or involved in real or simulated explicit sexual activity.”
This is based on Republic Act No. 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 and Republic Act No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the country’s laws against OSEC and trafficking.
LOOK: Data on the trafficking in persons from 2017 to July 2022 and on child pornography from 2016 to July 2022. pic.twitter.com/iMgInSlaa4
— PTVph (@PTVph) August 23, 2022
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo said poverty might have pushed perpetrators to resort to child exploitation, without considering that its psychological impact lingers on victims.
This was supported by Abalos, who said that many individuals lost their sources of income during the pandemic.
“It could be one of the factors bakit tumaas ito. We are going to put a stop on all of these. We are going to show them that the government is serious about stopping them,” he said.
Tulfo said online exploitation has been one of the top problems but was not given enough attention due to other issues on drugs, the COVID-19 pandemic, insurgency, and graft and corruption.
According to Philippine Special Envoy to UNICEF Nikki Teodoro, technology “made it easier for perpetrators to market their children,” as well as the lockdown restrictions during the pandemic.
“As of 2022, it’s up by over 280%. Why? Because it’s easy to do, the children are locked up. Nakakulong ang mga bata kasama ang magulang,” he said.
“They use everything that cannot be traced because they use SIM cards. So we must also monitor and register the SIM cards and our biometrics,” she added.
Department of Information and Communications and Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan Uy said they are “extensively coordinating with law enforcement agencies to provide them with all the resources they need” to go after exploitation of children.
“We are doing everything. We’re covering all aspects, whether social media and on how they’re marketing it on websites, and at the same time tracing the money trail,” he said. — With reports from Allan Francisco and Katrina Gracia Consebido-ag