Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. warned barangay officials on Wednesday, June 5, that there should absolutely no settlement of Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or exploitation of Children (OSAEC) cases at their level.
In a press briefing, Abalos urged the public to report online child sexual abuse and exploitation cases to proper law enforcement authorities as he vowed that those involved would be prosecuted.
He reiterated that local officials could be held liable if proven that they are instrumental in the “settlement’’ of these cases.
“Sa lahat ng mga nanonood ngayon, mga bata ito, biktima, ito’s krimen. Hindi mo sasabihin camera na nakatutok na ganun. Kasi may ganyang thinking eh. Sabi iba camera lang yan, no kay camera kay ano yan ito ay krimen laban sa bata (To all those watching now, these are children, victims, this is a crime. You cannot say that this is only a camera that is only focused on them like that. Because there is this mindset. Some will say that is only a camera, no, even if it is only a camera, even if it is anything, this is a crime against children),’’ Abalos emphasized.
In the same briefing, National Coordination Council (NCC) against OSAEC Executive Director Margarita Magsaysay stressed that the barangay should endorse these cases to proper law enforcement authorities since settlement of this nature is out of the question.
She cited that the preference to settle these cases at the barangay level has probably something to do with maintaining family harmony, which should not be done since justice is not served to the child/victim with the perpetrators having the luxury of victimizing other children again.
With President Ferdinand “Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr. describing child sexual and exploitation cases the worst of all crimes since this is committed against children, Abalos said this will further be strengthened by the concerted efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other concerned groups.
Earlier, the President ordered the establishment of a systematic and centralized scheme for resolving OSAEC related concerns using technology and specialized cybercrime mechanisms.
In ordering of putting premium on child protection against online sexual abuse and exploitation, the President called on the PNP and other concerned agencies to expedite the prosecution of perpetrators who are involved in the processing and distributing of child sexual abuse materials with the full weight of the law.