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Children play at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila on October 19, 2021. More people spend their time outdoors as the IATF eased down the NCR’s restrictions to Alert Level 3. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

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Children

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171757204519720211019-covid-parks-alert-level-3-GC-1170.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Children play at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila on October 19, 2021. More people spend their time outdoors as the IATF eased down the NCR’s restrictions to Alert Level 3. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered barangays to beef up mechanisms against<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"> online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), including making sure that cases are brought to law enforcement agencies, </span>Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Benjamin Abalos</span> said Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/25/marcos-jr-alarmed-over-rising-number-of-online-sexual-abuse-of-children-1601">• Marcos Jr alarmed over rising number of online sexual abuse of children</a><span id="isPasted"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/09/19/23/ph-world-no-2-in-online-sexual-abuse-exploitation-of-children-cicc"></a></span><br/><span><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/09/19/23/ph-world-no-2-in-online-sexual-abuse-exploitation-of-children-cicc">• PH &#x27;world number 2&#x27; in online sexual abuse and exploitation of children: CICC</a></span></div><p>“Alam ninyo po, ang ating Pangulo, ang sabi niya kahapon, napakasama nitong krimen na ito, this is the worst of all crimes dahil ito’y laban sa mga bata. Kaya ang nangyari po ritong approach, hindi lamang po ang pulis ang gagalaw dito; ito ay inter-agency. Ito ay pinagsama-samang lakas ng gobyerno,” Abalos said in a press briefing.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/23/22/philippines-declares-war-on-online-child-sex-abuse">• Philippines declares war on online child sexual abuse</a></div><p>Marcos met with government agencies on Tuesday, where they presented a comprehensive and intensive action plan to combat OSAEC and child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM).</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/08/24/22/doj-seeks-isps-telcos-cooperation-in-war-vs-online-child-sexual-abuse">• DOJ chief seeks ISPs, telcos&#x27; cooperation in war vs online child sexual abuse</a></div><p>“So dapat dito ay ika-capacitate po natin [ang LGUs]... In fact, ilalagay rin po natin ito as part of the Seal of Good Local Governance,&quot; Abalos said, referring to awards that the DILG gives to local government units that perform well.</p><p>He also warned barangay officials not to allow settlement of alleged cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Barangays have local councils that settle disputes and handles cases of crimes of lower penalties as a form of alternative dispute resolution.</p><p>“Hindi puwedeng mag-settle, I’m warning you, sa lahat ng mga nanood ngayon. Mga bata dito ang biktima... Kaya kung sino man ang makikipag-settle dito, I will make sure makukulong din kayo,&quot; he said.</p><p>(You cannot allow them to settle the case. I&#x27;m warning you... the victims are children and if you let the suspects settle the case, I will make sure you go to jail.)</p><div><strong>MORE HARM THAN GOOD&#x27;</strong></div><p>National Coordination Center (NCC) against OSAEC and CSAEM Executive Director Margarita Magsaysay explained that settling cases as serious as online sexual abuse and exploitation of children at the barangay level actually brings more harm to the victims.</p><div> <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/09/22/child-sexual-exploitation-in-ph-remains-top-concern">• Child sexual exploitation in PH remains top concern: Remulla, UN special rapporteur</a></div><p>“[H]indi na nakakarating iyong complaints sa law enforcement agency. (The complaints don&#x27;t reach law enforcement agnecies) There’s no justice that is brought to the child victim survivor and the perpetrator could still be in the community, potentially victimizing other children,” she said.</p><p>DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said barangay officials who allow perpetrators to settle with their victims face serious violations under the RA 11930 or the Anti-OSAEC Law.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/08/22/child-advocates-laud-passage-of-anti-online-sexual-abuse-law">• Child advocates laud passage of anti-online sexual abuse law</a></div><p> “The heaviest is life imprisonment,&quot; he warned.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/3/doj-indicts-mother-for-allegedly-selling-lewd-videos-of-daughter-1224" id="isPasted" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(93, 155, 192);text-decoration:none;user-select:auto;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">• DOJ indicts mother for allegedly selling lewd videos of daughter</a></div><p>Based on a United Nations study, the Philippines has become a hotbed of online scamming, with the the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) admitting that the Philippines is now second in the world when it comes to OSAEC.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vi9NndS_QbM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said barangay officials who allow perpetrators to settle with their victims face serious violations.</p>

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said barangay officials who allow perpetrators to settle with their victims face serious violations.

DILG warns barangays: Do not allow settlement of child sexual abuse cases

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DILG warns barangays: Do not allow settlement of child sexual abuse cases

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 05, 2024 04:06 PM PHT

Read More:

OSAEC

CSAEM

DILG

children

sexual abuse

justice

law

online sexual abuse and exploitation of children

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