Versus child abuse: City to form council, ban access to porn

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Government is set to activate the Cebu City Inter-Agency Council against trafficking and Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and has ordered a ban on access to pornographic sites on Wi-Fi networks operated by the city.

This is in response to the City Council's call to take action against OSAEC, according to Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia. He said he already instructed the city administrator to convene the council to address these cases.

However, he mentioned that he may first need to check if the appointment of those who will be heading the council includes the guidelines of the Commission on Elections, which prohibits the disbursement and utilization of government resources during the election period.

“Then, if it does not fall under these restrictions, we will immediately make the appointments and request the council to convene so that they can tackle issues such as this,” said Garcia.

Previously, Lucille Dejito, director of the International Justice Mission Cebu Program Office, spoke on behalf of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working with the women and children sector for the inter-agency council against trafficking at the national level.

She said that in their study released in 2023, it was found that nearly half-a-million children in the Philippines were trafficked to produce child exploitation materials, which she described as a "glaring reality."

In the same study, Cebu City was found as one of the cities with the highest prevalence of OSAEC cases.

In line with this, Garcia said he will wait for the council on OSAEC to convene before he can give his assessment. In the meantime, he said he may need to speak with the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation, both of which are focusing on these cases.

In the most recent regular session, the council called for the Cebu City-initiated, city-funded Public Wi-Fi services to block any pornographic sites. The body also encouraged privately-initiated Wi-Fi services to do the same. To further address this, the council has called for an executive session, scheduled for March 5, 2025.

Garcia expressed his openness to this idea.

“Maybe I could give a directive to the city administrator to inform that all public Wi-Fi networks used here in Cebu City Hall, as well as public Wi-Fi outside Cebu City Hall that are maintained and operated by the Cebu City Government, should block pornographic sites, among others,” said Garcia.

He added that, aside from pornographic sites, he is also keen on imposing a ban on violent videos.

The council’s action stemmed from the privilege speech delivered by Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover, who brought to their attention the rape of an eight-year-old girl by three minors, allegedly brought on by the viewing of pornographic material.

Meanwhile, the council is currently deliberating on an ordinance titled “An Ordinance Prohibiting Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (SAEM) in the City of Cebu, Institutionalizing Programs for Its Prevention and Eradication, Providing Penalties Therefor, and Establishing a Supportive Environment for Child Victims, and Providing Funds Therefor.” This ordinance was authored by Councilor James Anthony Cuenco. — (FREEMAN)