Hontiveros on online sexual abuse of minors: Gov’t ‘not doing enough’
Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros. Photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — Alarmed by the rising cases of abuse among minors, Sen. Risa Hontiveros laments the government’s seeming inability to eradicate online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC).
Hontiveros was reacting to the Department of Justice’s disclosure that the National Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Division had arrested a woman and her cohorts for sexually exploiting eight minors, including her four daughters, the youngest being a 10-month-old child.
Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate panel on women and children, said she was alarmed upon hearing the news.
“As a mother, it hurts my heart knowing that children are being abused in exchange for money,” she said in Filipino.
Hontiveros said that as the author of the Anti-OSAEC law, she is disappointed that the implementation of the measure “does not seem to proactively protect children from unspeakable violence.”
Article continues after this advertisement“I cannot help but think that we are not doing enough,” she added.
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to her, the Anti-OSAEC law imposes responsibilities on social media platforms, and yet OSAEC activities are still being conducted through social media applications like Facebook and WhatsApp.
This prompted her to urge social media companies to strengthen their regulation, emphasizing the need to further protect children.
Hontiveros said there is a need to hold accountable all internet service providers, e-wallets, and remittance centers that are now becoming part of the increasing cases of OSAEC.
“I will be calling a Senate inquiry on this matter, as well as on new trends on OSAEC. I also filed a resolution to investigate this very important topic,” she said.
“We need to strengthen our whole-of-nation approach to this unfortunate and complicated issue. Our children should not and should never be for sale,” she added.
READ: Hontiveros seeks probe into online sexual abuse, exploitation of kids
