A LEGISLATOR has urged pertinent government agencies to vigorously support President Marcos’ whole-of-government approach to combat online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
“President Marcos’ directive is clear: the government must ramp up efforts to combat child abuse in digital spaces. The Philippines remains a hotspot for the sexual exploitation of children, and like the President, I find the statistics— one in every 100 Filipinos affected—deeply alarming. We cannot allow these numbers to persist,” Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said.
“The President has made it his personal mission to tackle this pressing issue, and it is essential that all government agencies unite to put an end to online children abuse. Collective action is crucial to safeguarding the future of our youth,” he added.
Tiangco, chairman of the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology, said agencies need to be vigilant in their response because digital spaces constantly evolve, offering criminals new ways to evade detection and exploit vulnerable individuals.
“We cannot be snail-paced or outdated with the changing reality in cyberspace because the safety of children depends on it,” he stressed.
“At the heart of public service is our unending hope that we can build a country that will nourish and protect our children. If we let crimes like online child abuse continue to fester and rob our children of a happy childhood, and even a bright future, we are falling short of our promise as public servants,” he added.
Tiangco noted that the President’s call to action reflects his commitment to addressing the urgent issue of child protection, as demonstrated by the creation of the Presidential Office of Child Protection.
“We expect agencies to expedite programs that will further improve the capabilities of law enforcement, local government offices, and even social welfare personnel to prevent and prosecute people involved in online child abuse,” he said.
“While we recognize the ongoing efforts of various agencies in combatting these heinous crimes, a whole-of-government approach is necessary if we want to make a significant impact. We must urgently design and implement community-based programs that tackle root causes such as poverty and unemployment, which often drive individuals into harmful activities,” he added.
The Navotas lawmaker also expressed shock on how the growth of these abhorrent crimes generates millions, even billions of pesos.
“In 2022 alone, the Anti-Money Laundering Council flagged transactions amounting to P1.5 billion that are suspected to be linked to online sexual abuse,” he said.
“By adopting a whole-of-governance approach, we can anticipate a robust implementation of existing laws, including Republic Act 11930 (Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Act) and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022,” Tiangco said.
