Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. stated Thursday, Aug. 1, that he will heed President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'a standing order to the Cabinet members to focus on resolving child exploitation and abuse in the country.

During the recent “Enhanced Katarunganag Pambarangay’’ event, Abalos related that the President considers the resolution of violence against women and children (VAWC)-related issues, especially child exploitation cases, as the “greatest accomplishment’’ that Cabinet officials can achieve.

Understanding where the President is coming from, Abalos said that the directive was meant to erase the country’s deplorable record on cyber pornography and child exploitation cases.

With the DILG focusing on child exploitation and abuse cases, Abalos warned barangay officials never to intercede to favor the suspects in such cases, stressing that there should absolutely no settlement of Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or exploitation of Children (OSAEC) cases at their level.

Abalos cited the tendency of barangay officials to favor settling child exploitation and abuse cases and violence against women amicably to spare the barangays from shame, reasoning out to let things pass as the opposing camps are neighbors, friends or relatives.

When asked why these cases are prevalent in the country, Abalos pointed out that poverty further worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 was the probable major reason behind the rise of child abuse incidents in the Philippines.

Earlier, Abalos said that these deplorable acts violate Republic Act (RA) 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, stressing that online sexual exploitation of children is primarily “a mere production for the purpose of online publication of sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor in exchange for compensation.’’

In the same activity, Liga ng mga Barangay national president Maria Katrina Jessica Dy acknowledged that the event was an important milestone since the DILG and the European Union were simultaneously promoting the rights of women and children while strengthening the barangays by enhancing the Barangay Justice System.

“As a barangay captain and advocate of women and children’s rights, I am honored to be part of this occasion launching the Knowledge products which aims to provide our barangays in the Justice Zone Areas with the essential information to assist our women and children in need," she said.

She noted having observed “underlying issues’’ in the grassroots level concerning the efforts to promote the rights and the protection of women and children.

Aside from the lack of manpower in the barangays, Dy emphasized the lack of information and materials regarding the process of dealing with the said cases, as well as “lack of support, lack of awareness and most of all lack of empathy.’’

The Liga ng mga Barangay chief also noted the “huge gap’’ in the report of such cases, adding that the underreporting rate of about 25 to 50 percent with the “disturbing’’ fact that the cases of abuse against minors are settled or not given much attention.

“The Liga ng mga Barangay will continue to work hand in hand with the DILG and other departments of the government to further strengthen our barangays across the country, to create a safe space for all and to continuously empower them as part of the Bagong Pilipinas,’’ Dy continued.