‘Support a holistic approach to combating cyber child abuse’

A LAWGIRL has called on relevant government agencies to strongly support President Marcos’ whole-of-government approach to combat online child sexual abuse and exploitation.

“President Marcos’ directive is clear: the government must step up efforts to combat child abuse in digital spaces. The Philippines continues to be a hotspot for child sexual exploitation and like the President, I find the statistics — one in every 100 Filipinos is affected — very alarming. We cannot allow these numbers to persist,” said Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco.

“The President has made it his personal mission to address this urgent problem, and it is essential that all government agencies unite to put an end to online child abuse. Collective action is critical to safeguarding the future of our youth,” he added.

Tiangco, chairman of the House of Representatives Information and Communications Technology Committee, said agencies must be vigilant in their response as digital spaces are constantly evolving, offering criminals new ways to evade detection and exploit vulnerable individuals.

“We cannot be slow or out of date with the changing realities in cyberspace because the safety of children depends on it,” he stressed.

“At the heart of public service is our undying hope that we can build a country that nurtures and protects our children. If we allow crimes like online child abuse to continue and deprive our children of a happy childhood and even a bright future, we are failing in our promise as public servants,” he added.

Tiangco noted that the President’s call to action reflects his commitment to addressing the pressing issue of child protection, as evidenced by the establishment of the Presidential Office for Child Protection.

“We expect agencies to accelerate programs that will further enhance the capabilities of law enforcement, local government agencies and even social services personnel to prevent and prosecute those involved in online child abuse,” he said.

“While we acknowledge the continued efforts of various agencies in the fight against these heinous crimes, a whole-of-government approach is necessary if we are to make a significant impact. We urgently need to design and implement community-based programmes that address the root causes, such as poverty and unemployment, that often drive people to harmful activities,” he added.

The Navotas lawmaker also expressed shock at how the increase in these heinous crimes is generating millions, even billions of pesos.

“In 2022 alone, the Anti-Money Laundering Council has flagged transactions worth 1.5 billion pesos suspected of being linked to online sexual abuse,” he said.

“By adopting a whole-of-government approach, we can expect robust implementation of existing laws including Republic Act 11930 (Child Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Act) and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022,” Tiangco said.