The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. an Executive Order (EO) containing a six/pillar program to combat Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM).
This, after the President issued a directive to establish a centralized system using advanced technology to make the Philippines the “absolute worst” place for OSAEC perpetrators and CSAEM creators.
The six pillars cover communications, referral pathways and mechanisms, capacity-building, data harmonization, private sector engagement, and aftercare services to the victims to eradicate OSAEC and CSAEM.
Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic "Mico" Clavano IV emphasized the EO's critical role, stating it will serve as the “bible” to guide law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judges, and stakeholders in the fight against OSAEC.
“There are statistics from all over the world, let’s say that maybe one out of 10 children undergo abuse before the age of 18, and these children as they grow, they have to live with the trauma, and this is something that we do not want for the next generation, we do not want for our future and the dreams of these children,” Asec Clavano added.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla declared, "This initiative marks a significant shift for the Philippines, aiming to transform the country from a hotspot for these heinous crimes."
Clavano also highlighted the importance of aftercare for victims as mandated by the President.
“We have to give them a chance of a normal life. We have to give them back to the community through a distant relative who can take care of the child. We have to be victim-centric in all our programs, in all our efforts dahil ang pinoproteksyunan natin dito ay 'yung mga bata, and on the other side of that ay 'yung mga perpetrators po, kailangan talagang parusahan,” he added.
National Coordination Center against OSAEC and CSAEM (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM) OIC Executive Director Atty. Margarita Magsaysay expressed optimism, "With this action plan, we strongly believe that eventually we will be able to protect, heal, and reintegrate the child into the mainstream of society."
The DOJ and DILG's action plan includes directives for all relevant agencies to prioritize the protection of children in all programs and policies.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. reported significant progress in the fight against OSAEC and CSAEM, citing 214 case referrals from the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC) over the past four years.
The EO will mandate the implementation of a comprehensive and centralized system designed to detect, report, and prosecute cases of OSAEC and CSAEM. By utilizing state-of-the-art technology and specialized cybercrime mechanisms, this system aims to eradicate these heinous crimes from the Philippines.
With the approval of this Executive Order, the DOJ and DILG are resolutely committed to transforming the Philippines from a global hotspot for OSAEC and CSAEM to a global leader in preventing these crimes against children.