PRESIDENT Marcos Jr., in an emotional message, yesterday urged the public to support government efforts to make the Philippines “the worst place for child abusers and exploiters” as he affirmed his administration’s commitment to eradicate cases of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) in the country.
The President, in his speech during the “Iisang Nasyon, Iisang Aksyon: Tapusin ang Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) Ngayon Summit 2024” in Makati City, said he could not help but shed a tear as he listened to a “survivor” recall her experience and those like her.
“For us to allow this to happen in our country, it brings to me an overwhelming sense of shame because being in government, being in public service, we are not doing enough. We must do more. It is sexual abuse and exploitation of children,” a teary-eyed Marcos said.
He said he could not fathom what was done “to our poor children” especially as some cases even involved members of the family.
The President said sexual abuse and exploitation, especially of children, strikes at the very heart of society and undermines the foundations of who we are as a people.
Marcos said it is a “dark reality” where half a million Filipinos or one in every 100 Filipinos has been victimized.
“It is an appalling statistic. We cannot allow this to continue. We will not allow it to continue. It is the horrible scourge of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children or OSAEC, which remains widespread now in our country,” he said.
“It’s not a distant problem or the victims (are) just faceless and nameless children. Perhaps we do not know them. Perhaps we are not related to them. But they are all our children.
They are Filipinos…They live within our midst and several may be the sons, daughters of those people we know,” he added.
Records from the PNP showed that 1,099 victims were rescued from 237 operations, 138 suspects were arrested, 139 cases were filed, and 41 perpetrators were convicted.
The President resolved that everyone should do more, especially the government to end it.
“We must do more. One of the most important parts of the Filipino culture is family. We are known around the world for that. We are so well known for it that we are — Filipinos are the number one caretakers of foreign children all around the world,” he said.
The President said the government has already taken aggressive actions to address OSAEC led by the Department of Justice-Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in coordination with concerned stakeholders such as the International Justice Mission (IJM).
Marcos said he also issued Executive Order (EO) No. 67 that created the Presidential Office for Child Protection (POCP) to help protect children from physical and mental distress.
He said the POCP is a critical step in the government’s fight against this crisis as it serves as the epicenter of government efforts to bring together resources and strategies to ensure that every child in the country is protected and supported.
He said laws such as the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act and Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 have been passed which underscores the government’s relentless pursuit to bring these perpetrators to justice.
The President said the country has also established the Makabata Help Line 1383 and urged the public to support the measure, adding that a single call can save one child.
“Furthermore, our Tier 1 status in the Trafficking in Persons Report shows that we as a country have made earnest efforts and leadership in combating the crimes of human trafficking and OSAEC. We have also set a global example of effective law enforcement collaborating with the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children [Center] or the PICACC,” he added.
Marcos also urged the departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Health (DOH), Education (DepEd), DOJ and DILG to sustain the development of training programs to ensure that law enforcement, prosecution, social workers, teachers, other public servants are well-equipped to handle OSAEC cases.
