Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II today said that battling poverty is one of the major keys to fighting cybersex and prostitution, especially of minors.
“Naniniwala po tayo na may malaking role ang kahirapan kung kaya’t nabibitag ang mga kabataan sa mga cybersex activities o kaya’y prostitusyon,” Honasan said.
“One of the long term keys in fighting cybersex and prostitution is combating poverty,” he added.
This is after an international newspaper published an article in which minor girls in Iligan City, Mindanao were made to engage in cybersex activities and online prostitution.
It added that the girls who were either lured or forced into cybersex activities came from poor backgrounds, with some parents bringing their children into the cybersex dens.
The article also said that some foreign pedophiles even traveled to the country to abuse the children on camera.
Honasan said that the national government should devote more resources in the countryside.
“One of the keys in reducing poverty in the countryside is strengthening and creating more jobs in the five key areas of agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, business process outsourcing, and export,” Honasan said.
“Another key is educating our people so that they will have more opportunities, especially in the work they want to have in the future,” he added.
Honasan also called on national government agencies for tighter implementation as well as a closer coordination between these agencies, especially in the area of cybercrimes.
“I am calling on the national police to strictly implement the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, na nangangalaga sa ating mga kabataan laban sa mga sex crimes,” Honasan said.
“Even the Cybercrime Law covers the online sex trade and other online crimes,” he added.
Honasan also said that there should be a closer coordination between agencies, non-government organizations and advocacy groups in stopping online crimes.
“This way, we can combat cybercrimes in the short and long term,” Honasan said.
“And we can ensure our children will have a bright future waiting for them,” he added.