PNP-WCPC steps up fight vs online child exploitation
BGen. Portia Manalad, Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) chief, says that they have intensified efforts this year in cracking down on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). She said while the private sector and government have made gains by blocking sites that host child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM), these have made little impact on the number of cases that reach their office.
Video and interview by Ezrah Raya
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BGen. Portia Manalad, Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) chief, says that they have intensified efforts this year in cracking down on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). She said while the private sector and government have made gains by blocking sites that host child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM), these have made little impact on the number of cases that reach their office.
Video and interview by Ezrah Raya
Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe
Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net
Follow us:
Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook
Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram
Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter
DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion
Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital
Check out our Podcasts:
Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify
Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts
Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic
Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer
Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein
#TheManilaTimes
#exclusiveinterview
#onlinesexualabuse
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NewsTranscript
00:00 I'm Ezra Araya and this is the Manila Times.
00:03 The Philippines ranks second globally for the prevalence of online sexual abuse and
00:08 exploitation of children, according to a study by the International Justice Mission in 2022
00:14 and studies from UNICEF. Online child abuse is one of the rampant and evolving threats in the
00:21 country. Since then, multisectoral approach has been employed. Both the private sector and the
00:27 government has cracked down on online child exploitation, going as far as blocking sites
00:33 that host child sexual abuse or exploitation materials. The Philippine National Police, WCPC,
00:40 has intensified its campaign against perpetrators, conducting 54 law enforcement sting operations
00:47 in 2023 from 48 the previous year. Let's find out the current status of this issue.
00:54 Here with us is Philippine National Police PNP, Women and Children Protection Center, WCPC Director,
01:02 Police Brigadier General, Portia Manalad. Welcome to the Manila Times, ma'am. General,
01:07 the Philippines was ranked number two in the world for online sexual abuse and exploitation
01:15 of children and I know you are the one heading that division. So can you give us an update
01:21 on the cases of OSIC and has it improved this 2024? During the time of pandemic,
01:28 we had really, our numbers increased, our data when it comes to OSIC. Maybe because children
01:38 are inside the house and they are open because the platform we used for communication and even
01:49 our schools have internet. So everyone is exposed during that time on the internet and also at home.
01:59 So we see that we have an increase in the data of online sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
02:11 And because of that, in 2022 we were ranked number two. So ma'am, since then, I know there was a
02:20 multi-sectoral approach and even the private sector is helping to stop these sites and those
02:28 hosting pornographic materials. So ma'am, in 2023 and 2024, have we seen an improvement
02:40 in our numbers? Last 2023, no, in 2022 we had an 11930 new law against OSIC. So it's specific
02:53 to the requirements or what we are saying, what are the elements that we are saying that
03:05 you might violate the law. What we noticed was an increase during the pandemic and then we had a law
03:13 last 2022 which is the Republic Act 11930. Here it was clearly stated what is the role of each agency
03:24 of the government and what are the elements to say that this is a CISA-M or OSIC case.
03:33 So it was clearly stated. And then we saw there was a decrease in 2023 but it was not significant.
03:43 And there we saw that we had more operations. So if you can see, our numbers, the operations or
03:51 the referred cases from other countries grew. And then in 2024, actually, this is our quarter
03:59 where our operations are at its highest. So there was a recent study by the Anti-Money Laundering
04:05 Council where they saw that the areas with the highest number of OSIC cases are in Cavite.
04:20 Is that correct ma'am?
04:22 Because if we are talking about AMLA, they are looking for money or financial grain.
04:30 So maybe if they saw there, the financial transaction involving online sexual exploitation is big.
04:41 For us, we saw that it is all in the Philippines. Actually our operations are more on Region 3,
04:51 NCR and Mindanao area. Actually Region 10, Osamius. For us, the OSIC cases are higher.
05:08 Ma'am how do you catch perpetrators of these kinds of crimes?
05:14 The good thing about the Women and Children Protection Center is that the ICAF is in our area,
05:21 which is the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center.
05:25 Here, our composition is different foreign law enforcement agencies, foreign and local.
05:36 So our foreign partners are the UK National Crime Agency, Australian Federal Police, Netherlands Police.
05:48 We have an NGO which is the International Justice Mission.
05:55 We two are the National Bureau of Investigation, the division is the At-Rad Anti-Human Trafficking Division.
06:07 For the PNP, it is the Women and Children Protection Center.
06:11 So here in the Philippines, actually first here in Asia, here in the PICA we have record cases from those countries that are our members or even not members.
06:24 During their cyber patrol on the internet, they saw Asian-looking.
06:33 So they asked us if these kids are Filipino so we try to locate those victims here in the Philippines or try to rescue.
06:41 So when we saw them during our undercover online investigation, when we saw that they are Filipino, we try to locate them and then rescue the victim and arrest the facilitator or groomer here in the Philippines.
07:00 During that operation, what will happen to the kids who are being rescued in USAIC? Where will they go?
07:07 The kids who are being rescued, actually during the rescue or even during the operation, entrapment or serving of warrant, we have a DSWD.
07:20 So during the rescue, we partnered with the DSWD and then during the interview for us on the law enforcement side, we were also worried by the DSWD.
07:32 And then after that, when we finished the interview, because we need to have a disclosure of abuse of the child or the victim,
07:45 and then the DSWD will evaluate the victim and then if there is no relative or the relative is involved in the process during the activity of USAIC,
08:04 the DSWD will provide the accredited shelters or facilities. So that is where we bring the kids.
08:14 That's good to know General.
08:16 And then for the perpetrators who are usually family or neighbors of the victims, what is the heaviest punishment that can be given to them?
08:29 Actually in this case, this is a no-bail.
08:32 So we have already convicted people who are actually 15 years, 6 to 15 years in prison.
08:43 We will provide the exact penalty for that.
08:48 But we have convictions.
08:52 It is sad that sometimes the parent or the mother is the facilitator or the one who groomed the child to be the victim of online sexual exploitation and abuse.
09:06 In that process, if the DSWD evaluates that the child cannot be returned to the parent, the child will go to the facility or shelter.
09:19 Because the facility and shelter has interventions that are provided, psychological interventions for the child and of course the community to recover the child.
09:29 Ma'am, I just want to ask, with these cases, is it invoked the death penalty that they are talking about?
09:40 We don't have a death penalty yet.
09:44 So we don't see anything.
09:46 But if there is, maybe in cases like this where the victim is a child,
09:52 maybe if I were to ask, my personal opinion, it would be better because the trauma is really long for the child.
10:03 If he was abused when he was 4 years old, we can imagine that his trauma is for life.
10:14 And then we also have rescued victims before when they became adults.
10:22 Sometimes we catch them also doing the same, grooming the children.
10:30 So that's what we see.
10:34 So it's better if the government intervenes.
10:39 Ma'am, what are the ways to protect our children especially children who are very young from online predators or predators in general?
10:52 In the government, I know you know that we are doing the whole of the nation or whole of the government approach.
10:59 So the interagency partnership is very strong and we also have foreign law enforcement agencies that help us especially in law enforcement.
11:13 And our relationship with the NBI is good when doing rescue and arrest of perpetrators or offenders.
11:23 For us, the role of the community or the family is better.
11:30 The parents are supposed to educate their children about safety online, especially the sharing of information.
11:45 When we were young, we were told not to talk to strangers.
11:48 It's the same with online.
11:51 I hope the children are guided.
11:54 And then maybe we should be cautious with the content that the children post.
12:01 Or we can do it because sometimes we are happy to see it but the content sometimes violates privacy.
12:09 The location and then our law, how we have to have proof or the element so we can file a warrant.
12:25 Sometimes we really want to trap the perpetrator but there are laws that sometimes hold back on us that we cannot do right away.
12:37 So those are the factors or what we can say that if we want to end it, it's not that easy.
12:47 So I want to see it end.
12:54 Very well said.
12:55 General, like you said, it's a whole of nation approach.
12:59 Thank you very much Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center Chief Police Brigadier General Portia Manalad.
13:07 Thank you for your time.
13:09 Thank you very much.
13:11 [No audio]