Children, parents to join protest vs child porn

MANILA, Philippines - Children and parents are to join a protest march in Pasay City Wednesday to pressure lawmakers into curbing child pornography. An article on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website said the march is scheduled at the Cultural Center of the Philippine complex. Dubbed the "National Day of Unity and Awareness against Child Pornography," the event will start with a Mass at the Manila Film Center and will carry on with a walk to the Philippine Senate grounds. The CBCP said the rally will serve as "strong pressure" to senators to immediately enact the bill against child pornography. "Our legislators should expect series of activities in the coming days to further tell our senators and congressmen not to disregard the small voices and the cry of our children," said Anti-Child Pornography Alliance (ACPA) spokeswoman Arlene Brosas. ACPA urged both houses of the Congress to prioritize legislation that will promote the protection of children against all forms of abuses. The group lamented Congress slow action on the matter. The Senate has already consolidated a bill against child pornography while the House has already filed six bills. Brosas asked lawmakers to fast-track the enactment of the said measures at all cost. "Our senators and congressmen must be vigilant and determined enough to stand for the cause of our children for they were the ones who have the great responsibility in building a brighter future ahead of the future generations of the land," Brosas said. "The issue in protecting our young citizens lies upon the hands of our legislators where in fact they owed a lot to the Filipino children and people," she added. For his part, CBCP Permanent Committee on Public Affairs chairman and Caloocan bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. urged authorities to immediately work against child pornography. "There's a need for a strong and resolute legislation that will eradicate the alarming domestic issue of child pornography," he said. - GMANews.TV