DILG to barangays: No settlement in child sexual abuse cases

INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., issued an order to all barangays to make sure to beef up their respective mechanisms against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

Abalos said that village officials should make sure that the cases will be brought to law enforcement agencies.

“Alam ninyo po, ang ating Pangulo, ang sabi niya kahapon, napakasama nitong krimen na ito, this is the worst of all crimes dahil ito’y laban sa mga bata. Kaya ang nangyari po ritong approach, hindi lamang po ang pulis ang gagalaw dito; ito ay inter-agency. Ito ay pinagsama-samang lakas ng gobyerno,” Abalos said.

Earlier, Marcos was in a meeting that discussed a comprehensive and intensive action plan to combat OSAEC and child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM).

“So dapat dito ay ika-capacitate po natin [ang LGUs]… In fact, ilalagay rin po natin ito as part of the Seal of Good Local Governance,” Abalos said.

Likewise, he warned barangay officials not to allow settlement of alleged cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. 

Each villages have their respective local councils that settle disputes and handles cases of crimes of lower penalties as a form of alternative dispute resolution.

“Hindi puwedeng mag-settle, I’m warning you, sa lahat ng mga nanood ngayon. Mga bata dito ang biktima… Kaya kung sino man ang makikipag-settle dito, I will make sure makukulong din kayo,” he said.

The National Coordination Center (NCC) against OSAEC and CSAEM through Executive Director Margarita Magsaysay said that settling cases as serious as online sexual abuse and exploitation of children at the barangay level actually brings more harm to the victims.