Church groups raise alarm over rising cases of trafficking vs. children

Several church organizations on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the increasing number of cases of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) across the country.

At a press conference, Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) underscored that children are not for sale.

"We raise our concern to the alarming rising cases of sexually exploited children online in the country, a phenomenon called OSEC," Santos said.

"We reiterate that human trafficking is about exploitation and forced servitude. It represents the extreme commoditization of human lives, and thus, is often viewed as a contemporary form of slavery," he said.

Data from the International Justice Mission (IJM) showed that as of September 31, 2018, church groups and local government agencies had rescued 389 victims in 109 rescue operations.

So far, 165 suspects have been arrested, 42 of them convicted.

The IJM said the conduct of rescue operations by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other church groups have been intensified since 2016.

Asked about the age of the children rescued, the IJM noted the victims were usually 12 years old or younger, with one victim being as young as two months old.

According to Reverend Marie Villalon of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), only a few of the suspects were convicted as the victims' kin decided to no longer press charges.

"'Yung bakit po konti lang ang convicted kasi po kahit maraming nahuhuli, di po ito naitutuloy. Minsan po di nagaano 'yung mga victims, kung kapamilya po nila, tatay o nanay nila 'yung nakasuhan, minsan mahirap sa anak 'yung magfile ng case," she said.

"Mahirap din sila, walang pera... walang lawyer so di po nagtutuloy-tuloy 'yung mga kaso so kailangan talaga tumulong ang church at gobyerno para maprosecute 'yung mga perpetrators ng trafficking," Villalon said.

Villalon also disclosed that OSEC cases have been rampant in areas such as Dasmariñas, Cavite; Angeles City, Pampanga; Iligan City; and Taguig City, especially in the slums.

"'Yung isa po sa Dasmariñas, Cavite, 'yung nagkaron po kami ng consultation-orientation, kahit po 'yung mga taga-roon sa kanila, mga barangay, ang ilan po sa kanila nagulat din na merong higher incidents of OSEC in the area," Villalon said.

"Kung saan po may mga urban poor at mayroong mga bahay din, may nga foreigners... pag meron pong mga bahay sa squatters area na mayroong internet, sa loob ng bahay niya barong-barong lang siya pero may mataas na internet connection, dapat po naaalarm na," she said.

Parents as suspects

According to the Philippine Interfaith Movement Against Human Trafficking (PIMAHT), 72 percent of the suspects were parents, relatives, friends, or neighbors of the victims.

The bishop noted that poverty has pushed parents to engage their children in this illegal practice.

"We view that the economic deprivation and deplorable conditions of poor families forced the parents or relatives to engage their children," Santos said.

"Most of them are parents of jobless workers, displaced urban poor people or peasants in the provinces," he added.

He then urged the government to create employment for the poor sector so they will not be forced to engage in this kind of illegal activity.

"As we call to end OSEC, we will also pray and work for a society where they can enjoy life and their childhood, with food on their tables, and a bright future that awaits. Only when these systemic social problems are addressed that OSEC can be eliminated," Santos said. — MDM, GMA News