Soliman says Cebu province leads campaign vs cyber pornography

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Women’s Commission of Cebu has earned the distinction of being the most active committee that looks after the welfare of women.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said the active interventions of PWC in coordination with other agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation have led to the arrest of cyber pornography operators.

 â€œAng mga sangay ng pamahalaan ay tumutulong para protektahan ang karapatan at kapakanan ng mga kababaihan at mga bata. Dapat na maging proud ang Cebu na nangunguna kayo sa pagsugpo ng cyber pornography,” Soliman told reporters.

“Hindi dapat ikahiya na lumalabas dito sa Cebu na merong cyber pornography. Dapat ikatuwa na nasusugpo at nare-raid, nare-rescue, at hindi sila natatakot ilabas na mali ito,” she added.

Soliman pointed out the arrest of the couple and the rescue of their three daughters in an anti-cyber pornography operation in Barangay Ibabao in the municipality of Cordova last year.

According to authorities, the girls were made to strip off their clothes and touch their private parts in front of the web camera while foreigners are watching on the Internet.

The couple reportedly earned at least $100 or some P4,500 per transaction, depending on the extent of the lascivious acts a child was made to perform.

Soliman said that the DSWD will help fund the province to establish a new center which would cater to women and children who are victims of exploitations.

“Ang aming gagawin ay tutulungan namin (the province) mula sa inter-agency council against trafficking. Kami ‘yong tutulong na may pondo na ibibigay sa probinsya,” she said.

The DSWD and the province have yet to come up with the concrete plan but assured to have a ground breaking this year. Soliman made the announcements yesterday during the closing ceremony of the 14th Women’s Congress in Cebu.

Government agencies including NBI and the Department of the Interior and Local Government and women organizations convened yesterday for the event.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III also assured to continue the monitoring in the province against cybersex dens.

“The fight against cybercrime and cyber pornography will continue to be arduous. As governor of the province of Cebu, I pledge once more my full support to the PWC,” he said in his message.  (FREEMAN)