Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the spread of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the Philippines.

Gatchalian says that the probe seeks to provide a safer online environment for young people.

“It is important that we make sure that child protection systems are functional to address the reporting, response, prosecution, and rehabilitation of children victimized by perpetrators of online sexual abuse and exploitation,” Gatchalian said as he filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 1229.

He noted that the Philippines has emerged as a global hotspot for online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) due to various factors that include poverty, underdevelopment, digital payment systems, relatively high English proficiency of Filipinos, and high demand from foreign perpetrators exacerbating the issue.

The senator further pointed out that based on the recent Scale of Harm report of the International Justice Mission, nearly half a million Filipino children were trafficked online via live streaming in 2022. 

He said that about 74 percent of sexual abuse cases against children were found to be perpetrated by people closest to them or individuals within the victims’ “circle of trust”. This refers to parents, close relatives, and those who assert moral influence over the child.

Also, according to data from the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Women and Children’s Protection Center, more than 17,600 reported cases of child rights violations were recorded in 2023. A substantial number of these cases are online sexual abuse and exploitation violations against children.

“With the proliferation of OSAEC seriously threatening the safety and welfare of Filipino children, there is a need for the Senate to ensure that all stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, national and local government, and the private sector prioritize child protection and support a united front against the exploitation of children,” Gatchalian emphasized.

The senator also said there is a need to strengthen international cooperation to improve data-sharing and cross-border prosecution, enhance the accountability of digital platforms, including social media companies to proactively detect and remove harmful content, and implement comprehensive public awareness campaigns educating communities, particularly vulnerable groups about the dangers of OSAEC.

Meanwhile, in a radio interview on DWIZ, Gatchalian said that the Senate is seeking to increase the budget of the Inter-Agency Task Force against Human Trafficking (IACAT) and the Inter-Agency Task Force against Online Sexual Abuse of Children.

"Nakakakilabot dahil ang Pilipinas isa sa pinakamataas pagdating sa online sexual abuse of children. Dahil nga maraming mga pedophile nakakapasok (It's chilling because the Philippines is one of the countries with the highest rates of online sexual abuse of children. This is because many pedophiles gain access here)," he said.

So nag-propose kami, na taasan yung budget nito para labanan yung ganitong mga karumal-dumal na krimen (So we proposed to increase the budget for this to combat these kinds of heinous crimes)," he added.