A neophyte solon has filed a resolution seeking to investigate, in aid of legislation, the reported increase in online sexual exploitation of children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles recently filed House Resolution No.999 amid a report by the Department of Justice – Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) that 279,166 cases of online sexual exploitation of children have been tallied from March 1 to May 24.
Internet service providers have been unable to curb the proliferation of online exploitation.
This was a 265.63% increase from the same period in 2019, where 76,561 cases were lodged.
The DOJ-OOC used data from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
“Lubos po tayong nababahala sa mga datos na ito. Kawawa po ang mga bata. This is an urgent issue that we need to address,” Nograles, a Harvard-trained lawyer, said.
He bemoaned that internet service providers have been unable to curb the proliferation of online exploitation due to an inability to install technology that could block access to and distribution of child pornography.
“Naging barrier din ang ECQ sa pag-detect ng mga kaso ng child sexual exploitation dahil nakakulong ang mga biktima sa kanilang mga bahay at hindi nila nakikita ang mga maaaring mapagsumbungan kagaya ng mga guro,” the lawmaker said.
“That there is a need for the government to crack down on the sexual trafficking of children.”
Nograles added that there was a need for the government to crack down on the sexual trafficking of children.
“Umaasa akong pagtutuunan ng agarang atensyon ang isyu na ito hindi lang ng Kongreso, kundi ng buong pamahalaan . Nakakapanlumo ang ganitong mga pangyayari. We must protect our children.