With the marked increase of reported cases of abuse against children, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) joined key agencies of the government in expressing its commitment to step up efforts to protect children against pornography and Trafficking in Person (TIP) and “to put a stop to these crimes victimizing our young ones.”
In an inter-agency press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, DILG Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos, Jr. underscored that the administration is hellbent on eradicating any abuses committed against children, with focus on pornography, online sexual exploitation, and TIP.
“Nagsama-sama ngayon ang karamihan sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan para ipakita ang aming commitment sa mahalagang adhikain na ito para siguruhin ang kaligtasan ng mga bata,” he said.
“Like the many ills of the society, it is only through a collective stand that we can overcome these abuses committed to our children. Malaki ang responsibilidad natin na pangalagaan ang kapakanan at kaligtasan ng mga bata mula sa mga sindikatong nais pagsamantalahan ang kanilang kahinaan at kamusmusan,” he added.
Joining Abalos in the said briefing were Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles; Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla; Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo; Department of Information and Communication Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy; US Homeland Security Attache in Manila Ricardo Navalta; National Bureau of Investigation Director Medardo De Lemos; and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., among others.
“We have to show them that we are dead serious about putting a stop to these crimes against our children. We are going to show the perpetrators that the government is on a united front in combatting this. Talagang nagkakaisa lahat gamit ang kani-kaniyang specialization,” Abalos said.
As of July this year, 103 cases of violation against the Anti-Child Pornography Act were recorded and 198 cases of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children were filed in court as a result of 227 police operations conducted in the same period.
He assured that the DILG and its attached agencies will work in unison with the other agencies in the pursuit of criminals preying on children. “We will make sure that our law enforcers on the ground will be more aggressive in their efforts to hunt criminals who are prowling on our young people as their easy prey in their nefarious activities,” he said.
He said all local government units (LGUs) from the provincial down to the barangay level will also be tapped to carry out measures to counter child pornography and TIP through their respective Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women; Local Council for the Protection of Women and Children; and, Barangay Council for the Protection of Women and Children.
The Philippines retained its Tier 1 status in the United States Trafficking in Persons Report of 2022 for the seventh straight year as a result of its resilient efforts against transnational crimes.
Rooms for improvement
According to Abalos, the DILG is constantly finding avenues to thwart the proliferation of abuses against children and establish opportunities to get an upper hand against its perpetrators. “Our resolve against child pornography, TIP, and other abuses against children is unwavering. Ang DILG po ay titindig upang pangalagaan ang ating mga anak sapagkat sila po ang ating kinabukasan.”
He said there is great potential in the coming together of national government agencies and other stakeholders in the war against these crimes against children. He recommended the procurement of forensic software for online investigations; provision of child-friendly facilities in Anti-Cybercrime group offices; collaboration with foreign law enforcement agencies; approval of the SIM Card Registration Law; and, provision of capacity development to LGUs down at the barangay.
He said there is more to be implemented to protect the children not only from the perpetrators of crimes but from the long-lasting effects of these abuses committed against them. Among such effects, he added, are withdrawal and isolation; anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder; impact on their future livelihood and employment.
Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-key-agencies-vow-to-protect-children-vs-pornography-Trafficking-in-Persons/NC-2022-1127