Gatchalian sounds alarm on reports of students' online sex "Christmas sale"

Citing reports of students holding a "Christmas sale" of sensual photos and videos to raise funds for distance learning-related expenses, Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Cybercrime and the Philippine National Police's (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group to intensify their probe and crackdown on these activities.

According to a news report by The Philippine Online Student Tambayan (POST), a news portal on the student sector, some students use #AlterPH, #AlterPinay, and #AlterPhilippines on Twitter to sell their photos and videos. These students use what they earn to buy gadgets for their siblings and pay for internet bills. A Christmas bundle, which contains an array of photos and videos that sometimes reveal the face of sellers, is sold for as low P150.

Between March 1 to May 24 this year, there were 279,166 cases of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) recorded in Metro Manila, a spike of 264 percent from the 76,561 cases recorded from the same period last year.

"Nakakabahalang dahil sa mga suliraning dinudulot ng pandemya, ang ating mga kabataan ay nahaharap sa matinding panganib na maging biktima ng pang-aabuso at karahasan. Pinagsasamantalahan ng mga masasamang-loob ang pangangailangan ng ating mga mag-aaral at dapat itong labanan ng ating pamahalaan," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Gatchalian added that DepEd, on its part, should boost its child protection program, noting that the 'Child Protection Committees' (CPC) in schools are mandated to identify learners who may be experiencing abuse and exploitation. CPCs are also expected to report cases to government agencies and non-government organizations.

Gatchalian seeks a stronger government crackdown of trafficking. Senate Bill No.1794, which he filed, proposes that in cases involving child trafficking, regional trial courts can authorize law enforcers to conduct surveillance and record communications and information involving persons charged with or suspected of trafficking. The proposed measure also mandates internet service providers (ISPs) to install available technology, program, or software to block and filter any access to any form of child pornography.

Gatchalian also filed Senate Bill 735 or the Human Trafficking Preventive Education Program Act, which seeks to orient Filipino children and youth about their rights, government protection measures, and the dangers posed by different forms of trafficking.

The senator is eyeing a law that would provide every learner in the country with a laptop and access to the internet. A provision under the bill, which has yet to be filed, will eliminate the need for learners to resort to desperate measures that may meet their current needs and will only cause psychosocial concerns and personal issues in the long run.

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Gatchalian: pagbebenta ng malalaswang video at larawan ng mga mag-aaral dapat sugpuin

Matapos lumabas ang mga ulat na may mga mag-aaral na nagsasagawa ng "Christmas sale" ng mga malalaswang video at larawan nila upang makalikom ng pantustos sa distance learning, hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Cybercrime at ang Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group na sugpuin ang mga aktibidad na ito sa lalong madaling panahon.

Lumabas kasi sa isang ulat ng The Philippine Online Student Tambayan (POST) na may mga mag-aaral na ginagamit ang mga hashtag na #AlterPH, #AlterPinay, at #AlterPhilippines sa Twitter upang makabenta ng mga malalaswang larawan at video. Ayon sa ulat, ginagamit ng mga mag-aaral ang kanilang kinita upang makabili ng mga gadgets at magbayad ng internet connection. May ilang nagbebenta pa ng "Christmas bundle" sa halagang isang daang at limampung (150) piso na may lamang mga larawan na minsan ay ipinapakita ang mukha ng mga nagbebenta.

Mula Marso 1 hanggang Mayo 24 noong nakaraang taon, may halos tatlong daang libong (279,166) kaso ng online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) ang naitala sa Metro Manila, mas mataas nang halos tatlong daang (264) porsyento mula sa halos walumpung (76,561) mga kasong naitala sa parehong mga petsa noong nakaraaang taon.

"Nakakabahalang dahil sa mga suliraning dinudulot ng pandemya, ang ating mga kabataan ay nahaharap sa matinding panganib na maging biktima ng pang-aabuso at karahasan. Pinagsasamantalahan ng mga masasamang-loob ang pangangailangan ng ating mga mag-aaral at dapat itong labanan ng ating pamahalaan," ayon sa Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Isinusulong din ni Gatchalian ang mas maigting na pagsugpo sa trafficking. Sa ilalim ng Senate Bill No.1794 na kanyang panukala, maaaring pahintulutan ng mga regional trial court ang mga law enforcers na magsagawa ng surveillance sa mga pinaghihinalaang sangkot sa trafficking. Sa ilalim din ng panukalang batas, ang mga internet service providers (ISPs) ay magkakaroon ng tungkulin na harangin ang ano mang uri ng child pornography.

Inihain din ni Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 735 o ang Human Trafficking Preventive Education Program Act na layong paigtingin ang kaalaman ng mga kabataan tungkol sa kanilang mga karapatan, mga programa ng pamahalaan, at mga panganib na dulot ng trafficking.

Maghahain din ang senador ng isang panukalang batas na layong bigyan ng laptop at internet connection ang bawat mag-aaral. Bilang dagdag na proteksyon sa mga mag-aaral, isa sa mga probisyon sa ihahaing panukala ang layong mapigilan ang mga mag-aaral na gumawa ng mga mapanganib na hakbang upang mapunan lamang ang kanilang mga pangangailangan.