Hontiveros urges Marcos to sign anti-online sexual abuse, exploitation of children bill

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday urged President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to sign into law the bill protecting children against online sexual abuse and exploitation.

In a Twitter post, the opposition lawmaker attached screenshots of online contents showing comments implying sexual abuse of children.

These horrifying photos tell us what we already knew: that an Anti-Online Sexual Abuse & Exploitation of Children law is absolutely and urgently needed.

I call on the executive to sign the Anti-OSAEC law now. Our children need the full power & protection of this measure. pic.twitter.com/nnZ8rZEcQP

— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) July 14, 2022

"These horrifying photos tell us what we already knew: that an Anti-Online Sexual Abuse & Exploitation of Children Law is absolutely and urgently needed," she said.

"I call on the executive to sign the Anti-OSAEC law now. Our children need the full power & protection of this measure," she added.

In a separate statement, Hontiveros said more children are getting at risk as long as the Anti-OSAEC Bill is not signed into law.

Further, she urged the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group and the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the people behind social media pages and accounts perpetrating sexual abuse of children.

"Hindi lang dapat sila matanggal sa platforms, dapat ay mahuli din sila at managot sa batas," she said.

(They should not only be removed from the platforms but they should also be arrested and held accountable before the law.)

In May, both houses of Congress ratified the bill against the online sexual abuse or exploitation of children and child sexual abuse or exploitation materials.

The proposed measure seeks to increase the duties of the private sector, with emphasis on electronic service providers, internet intermediaries, financial intermediaries, specifically with respect to the blocking and preserving of OSAEC materials found on their platforms, and cooperation with law enforcement agents.

It will create a the National Coordinating Center against OSAEC and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) under the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT).

The bill will also establish protections and guarantees for child victims of OSAEC, particularly with respect to their psycho-social needs and it will grant additional investigation and surveillance tools to law enforcement agents, taking into account the complexities of the internet and the dark web.—AOL, GMA News