‘4Ps parents’ nabbed for forcing children into cybersex operations

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Human Trafficking Division have rescued five minors believed to have been forced by their parents to engage in cybersex operations in Taguig City.

According to a report on "24 Oras", the victims' parents were arrested and some gadgets used for their operations, illegal drugs, and sex toys were also confiscated.

“Sariling nanay nila binubugaw sila at kinukuhanan ng litrato at video at binebenta online kapalit ng pera pati mga menor de edad na kapitbahay niya ay binubugaw niya rin,” said NBI Spokesperson Atty. Giselle Garcia-Dumlao.

The victims said their parents, who are said to be beneficiaries of the 4Ps aid program, had been conducting cybersex operations since 2017. The suspects then expressed their deep regret.

“Pakakasalan daw po yung anak ko, uuwi dito, parang naano po kami sa perang pinapadala niya. Sa sobrang kagipitan sir, kaya po nagawa yun,” one of the suspects explained.

Child pornography

In the data obtained by GMA News research from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the number of child sexual abuse materials uploaded to the internet from the Philippines increased by almost four times or 290% in 2021 compared to 2019.

In which, trafficking and online sexual abuse are considered the worst form of child labor, says the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) says there are more than half a million child laborers among the 31.17 million youth aged 5-17. Most are in Northern Mindanao, Bicol, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where poverty is said to be the main reason.

However, DOLE is currently coordinating with different agencies and government units to combat child labor and trafficking.

“Nagkaroon kami ng coordination ng Technical Education And Skills Development (TESDA), para mabigyan ng kailangan sila ng kailangan nilang skills development. Yung iba naman nireferer sa ating partners sa local government at nakikipag-coordinate din kami sa Department of Education (DepEd),” said Ryan Delos Reyes Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program of DOLE. —