We must do more to stop online child abuse

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to further intensify efforts to combat online child sexual abuse, expressing “deep shame” over the continued recording of such cases.

Marcos made the statement in an emotional speech during the 2024 National Summit Against Online Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation (OSAEC).

“As I listened to the young lady, I couldn’t help but shed a tear at the thought — of trying — to alleviate the suffering that they were going through. And to think of how many other children even — while we are here … are still suffering the same fate as her,” Marcos said, visibly emotional, as he referred to an OSAEC survivor who shared her experience when she was just 13 years old.

“And the fact that we allow this to happen in our country brings to me an overwhelming sense of shame, because as a government official, as a public service provider, we are not doing enough. We need to do more,” he added.

According to Marcos, OSAEC cases remain one of the country’s “biggest challenges,” as one in every 100 Filipino children is a victim of abuse.

“It’s a terrible statistic. We can’t let this continue. We won’t let this continue,” he vowed.

Article continues after this advertisement

Marcos cited measures the government is currently taking to combat this problem, including the passage of the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.

Article continues after this advertisement

He cited reports from the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center, which showed that the center rescued more than 1,099 victims of human trafficking and OSAEC and arrested more than a hundred suspects between 2022 and July 2024.

READ: Child Protection Agency Established in Philippines Amid Rise in Online Abuse

He then called on various agencies to continue their efforts to protect children and to develop training programs that ensure that “law enforcement, prosecutors, social workers, teachers and other officials are well equipped to handle OSAEC cases.

He also called for a strengthened criminal justice system that will ensure that all criminals who commit such a “heinous crime” are “put behind bars and made to pay for what they have done.”

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this government will do everything we can – we will spare no effort – to combat these horrific crimes against our children,” he said.

“Let us all work together to ensure that the Philippines becomes the worst place for those who abuse and exploit children,” he added.

READ: Fugitive child trafficker returns to PH with 111 victims