De Lima seeks probe into rising cases of child cybersex abuses in PHL

Expressing alarm over the rising number of reported incidents cybersex trafficking involving children, opposition Senator Leila de Lima has sought an investigation into all forms of exploitation and violence in the country.

In Senate Resolution 201, the senator directed the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality to inquire into the "unabated" proliferation of child cybersex abuses in the country and review the status of implementation of existing laws on protecting children from abuses.

“Cybersex abuse is now terribly advancing and spreading to different platforms — from social media networks, dating sites and online chat rooms — thus making the investigation and identification of sexual predators harder,” she said.

In a statement on Saturday, De Lima cited data from anti-trafficking organization International Justice Mission indicating that the number of rescue operations related to cybersex trade in the Philippines increased from 17 in 2015 to 51 in the first quarter of 2018, with age of the victims down to below 12 years old.

Also, she cited a report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) noting that the Philippines has become “the epicenter” of the live-stream sexual abuse trades and the No. 1 global source of child pornography.”

UNICEF also bared that the Philippine Justice Department receives more than 3,000 reports from overseas of possible cybersex trafficking cases every month.

Based on the 2019 records of the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, among the hotspots for child pornography trade in the country are found in Taguig City, while Iligan City, Cebu, Pampanga, and Tarlac are areas with the most recorded cases of cybersex trafficking.

“Many victims are exploited by their own families and unable or afraid to speak out, while the encrypted nature of modern technology from messaging to video call apps makes criminals tough to track,” De Lima noted.

De Lima expressed hopes that the proposed Senate investigation into the cases of cybersex trafficking in the country could lead to possible legislation imposing stiff penalty and hefty fines against sexual predators.

She also pointed out the the need to coordinate the Philippine government’s efforts with its international allies “to overcome all obstacles in terms of enforcement, particularly in tracking international offenders who are protected by internet anonymity.”

“There is urgent need to take notice and act as these types of crime tend to proliferate quickly with the advent of exponential advancement and sophistication of technologies connected to the internet,” she said.

This 18th Congress, De Lima filed Senate Bill No. 621 requiring commercial establishments and public institutions to use appropriate filtering devices that will restrict children's access to harmful materials in the Internet. —LBG, GMA News