Benhur Abalos (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Calling their actions "detestable", former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos said that the Filipinos who facilitated French pedophile Bouhalem Bouchiba's dastardly deeds must also be punished. 

"Nakakagalit. Kasuklam-suklam...Kailangan lahat ng naging kasabwat ni Bouchiba sa Pilipinas ay maparusahan at makulong din," Abalos said in a statement Thursday, Nov. 7.

(It angers me. It's detestable...All of Bouchiba's accomplices in the Philippines must also be punished and jailed.)

Bouchiba was recently sentenced in a Paris, France court for online sexual abuses involving numerous Filipino victims. These were crimes that he got away wirh for more than a decade.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has already announced it is actively coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to pursue those who assisted Bouchiba. The DOJ is also coordinating with the PNP's Women and Children Protection Center and the National Coordination Center Against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children to ensure a thorough investigation and accountability for the perpetrators.

“Walang Pilipino dapat ang nagbebenta sa kapwa (No Filipino should sell off his or her countryman). Those who colluded with Bouchiba in his online sexual abuses must be held accountable, especially as many of the victims are young Filipino girls,” Abalos stressed.

The aspiring senator expressed confidence in the DOJ and PNP's ability to ensure that those involved in this heinous crime will not escape the law.

Abalos said Bouchiba, along with criminals like serial child trafficker Teddy Jay Mejia, accused of abusing and exploiting 111 underage girls, should rot in jail. 

Mejia was apprehended last September in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and was returned to the Philippines by Abalos and General Portia Manalad after successful coordination with UAE and Interpol. 

Mejia now faces charges of qualified trafficking, statutory rape, and violations under Republic Act (RA) No.11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act.

“It turns out this demon is profiling loner kids, the smart kids. Imagine, kids who are nine years old, 10, 11--these are just innocent children,” Abalos said. 

To combat these crimes, the ex-Cabinet member reiterated his call from the 33rd Session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ33) in Vienna, Austria, last May for countries to enact laws that penalize end-users who view or download child sexual abuse or exploitation materials.

"What many don’t realize is that every click on such materials is an act of violation and assault. Every nation has a responsibility to protect children, and these crimes can be stopped if every nation participates in passing laws banning these materials and punishing end-users,” Abalos stated.

Before stepping down from the DILG for his senatorial bid, Abalos issued Memorandum Circular 2024-140, mandating all local government units to establish their own anti-online sexual abuse or exploitation of children ordinance and anti-child sexual abuse or exploitation materials ordinance in line with RA No.11930.