AT LEAST 15 children were sexually abused and exploited online in a cybersex den raided recently. It was the family members who were forcing these children to perform sexual acts for Australian clients. This happened in Camarines Sur. The police rescued the minors whose ages ranged from four to 15 years old.
The Australian government previously monitored cases of child pornography in the area. The activity was immediately coordinated to the Philippine authorities. As a result, a rescue operation was conducted. Four suspects were arrested; they claimed they committed the offence due to poverty.
This criminal activity could be happening in other areas of the country, too. Despite recent successful rescue operations of children victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation, most of us are still blind as to how many of them are being victimized and why their families are resorting to such abominable trade as an alternative source of income in a desperate attempt to address economic adversities.
It is extremely appalling that the impact of the country’s widespread poverty exacerbated by the pandemic is so huge that a number of poor families are lured into allowing their own children to be victimized in exchange for money. While we strive to uphold and promote the rights and welfare of Filipino children, we should also recognize and address the root causes of online sexual abuse and exploitation. Hence, it is highly important that the government enforces child protection laws and measures while providing necessary services for poor families to mitigate the risks and address vulnerabilities of children and their families.
It is high time for Congress to pass a law that addresses the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). We need a law that will protect them. At the same time, flaws in our criminal justice system must be decisively resolved while support programs for children victims are provided and strengthened.
On the other hand, law enforcement agencies must not only focus on the parents or relatives who are involved in OSAEC but also give emphasis in going after foreign perpetrators who exploit the dire situation of Filipino children. At the same time, the government must hold accountable the internet intermediaries and payment centers should they fail to report or act on OSAEC-related activities.
The time to act is now.
