WITH the ongoing community quarantines across the country, children have been locked up in their homes for long periods of time, thus making online platforms a fundamental need for them to continue their education and maintain a sense of normalcy.
But the pandemic has made it easier for OSAEC (Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children) perpetrators to prey on children amid economic difficulties. Data from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children showed how rapid OSAEC cases increased during the pandemic, noting that there was a 209% increase in the cyber tip reports of OSAEC for the Philippines, from January to December 2020 (1,294,750 cyber tips) compared to 2019 (418,422 cyber tips).
These figures complement the findings of a risk assessment report released by the Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Council in 2020, which showed that there had been a significant rise in the suspicious financial transactions related to OSAEC in 2020. From the 597 suspicious transaction reports recorded in May 2019, the figures bloated to 5,634 in May 2020.
How can we address this OSAEC concern? At the very least, the House Committee on the Revision of Laws should immediately resume the stalled deliberations on the proposed OSAEC Law, which has been pending in the said House Committee since May 18 this year. The delay in the proceedings of the Anti-OSAEC measure jeopardizes the life and future of Filipino children, especially amid the pandemic where they have become more vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation.
Time is running out – the House of Representatives has already commenced the deliberations on the proposed 2022 national budget, a herculean effort that keen observers know from experience will take the bulk of our legislators’ time and attention.
And in a few months, preparations for the upcoming national elections will surely take center stage for most legislators, leaving many pending bills in legislative limbo until the next Congress opens.
We implore our legislators: we should not put the Anti-OSAEC Bill on the backburner. The current situation calls for a potent law that can protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation.
Passing the Anti-OSAEC Bill will be a testament to how our Legislature puts Filipino children at the heart of the law. This bill is not simply a piece of paper – it can and will save lives. Every day that proceedings on this bill are delayed is equivalent to another day when online sexual predators can freely operate and victimize children.
