MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered various law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts in combatting online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).
According to Malacañang press briefer Daphne Paez, the President tasked the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) “to eliminate all forms of child sexual exploitation.”
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. condemned in the strongest of terms the crimes of online sexual abuse or exploitation of children and child sexual abuse or exploitation materials in the Philippines,” Paez said.
“He ordered the DOJ and the PNP to come down on perpetrators with the full weight of the law and directed the DSWD and other agencies to streamline and improve the process of investigation to make sure the children are protected and families are properly reintegrated,” she added.
The Chief Executive also ordered an increased collaboration with private sector and internet service providers, as well as an awareness campaign in schools and communities.
Atty. Margarita Magsaysay, executive director of the Department of Justice’s Center for Anti-Online Child Sexual Abuse, said sexual abuse of Filipino children is prevalent in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City, and Taguig City.
According to Magsaysay, perpetrators of online crimes against children target the vulnerable, especially children in “poorer side of the country, who are in the rural areas.”
“They are easy targets because OSAEC is financially-lucrative activity. Makagat na yung mga victims, mga P300, P200 for just showing nude pictures. That’s how bad it is,” Magsaysay said.
She added: “Nagugulat rin po kami na parang mas mababa ngayon ang value, pero mas madaming CSAEM (child sexual abuse or exploitation material), and it’s because of that. It’s becoming cheaper and accessible to perpetrators. It’s very alarming because CSAEM has become more accessible to these perpetrators.”/PN
