EDITORIAL - Very easy

Policemen in San Remigio Town arrested a foreigner in the company of six minors aged between 15 and 17 years old last Tuesday.

The 45-year-old Australian wasn’t caught in any untoward act against the minors whom he was allegedly about to take island-hopping, but Philippine law provides that adults cannot be with minors who aren’t related to them in hotels, resorts, and other public places.

The man has yet to be proven guilty of violating the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, so we won’t say he is.

However, we can’t help but be worried because, for one, he reportedly has a record of victimizing minors and, for another, child trafficking and exploitation have been known to take place in Cebu. To prove this we only need to look at past cases where foreigners took advantage of children, or where parents sold exploitation photos and videos of their own children.

In one town, the illegal activity became so rampant that authorities had to ask that money wire transfers be monitored as this was how they suspected child predators and pedophiles overseas paid for illicit materials produced here.

This latest incident shows how easily some children can get into a situation where they can be exploited.

Without necessarily saying it was the intent of the arrested foreigner, an occasion for exploitation can begin with the simplest invitation to hang out, or eat out, or go on an excursion, things that are so innocent they can even be considered day-to-day activities.

With such activities, children can be easily lured into a situation where one person has complete control and can do whatever he or she wants to them.

Parents and guardians must always be aware of where their children are and whom they are with. As proven by the child abuse cases mentioned above, even blood relation is no guarantee someone will not exploit a child.

Likewise, foreigners must also be aware as to what falls under the suspicion of child abuse and exploitation here, as we also believe that not all people who want to hang out with children have such ill intent.