Leading up to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s recent directive to intensify efforts against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in the Philippines, the International Justice Mission (IJM) proposed concrete measures to support the government's initiative.

"Given the alarming prevalence of trafficking of children for the production of child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSAEM) — with an estimated nearly half a million Filipino children victimized in 2022 alone—swift and comprehensive action is imperative. We commend the government's commitment to addressing this significant challenge," stated lawyer Samson Inocencio Jr., national director of IJM Philippines and vice president of IJM's Program Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children.

Building upon their Scale of Harm prevalence study released last September, IJM voiced support for President Marcos' call to bolster law enforcement efforts aimed at rescuing victims, apprehending and prosecuting offenders, and implementing a holistic solution. Additionally, IJM suggested specific actions to accelerate the fight against OSAEC:Strict enforcement of Anti-OSAEC law provisions mandating tech companies to detect, block, and report CSAEM, including instances of livestreamed abuse.

Issuance of clear guidance and regulations by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to ensure Philippine financial institutions detect, intercept, and report transactions indicative of OSAEC.

Issuance of clear guidance from the Supreme Court for prosecutors and courts to consistently apply the principles of probable cause and police personal knowledge, facilitating expedited warrants.

Inocencio highlighted significant progress in addressing OSAEC, attributing it to collaborative efforts led by the Philippine Government, which have resulted in more perpetrators being held accountable and more victims rescued.However, acknowledging the ongoing severity of the issue, Inocencio emphasized the need for continued action. IJM remains dedicated to collaborating with the government, advocating for increased community reporting, and enhancing the criminal justice system's response, among other recommendations outlined in their study.

In 2023, the Philippines received 2,740,905 reports from the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding suspected child sexual exploitation online, indicating a pressing need for proactive measures.To streamline and intensify Philippine law enforcement actions against OSAEC, IJM recommended the Supreme Court provide clear guidance enabling prosecutors and courts to interpret and apply legal principles effectively, facilitating swift warrants and arrests while prioritizing victim rescue.

Recognizing the financial sector's crucial role, IJM urged the AMLC and BSP to provide explicit guidance to financial institutions regarding the detection and reporting of suspicious transactions related to OSAEC. Additionally, IJM called for rigorous enforcement of the Philippine Anti-OSAEC law on tech companies, ensuring platforms are equipped to detect and prevent abuse.

IJM remains steadfast in its commitment to partnering with the Philippine Government to protect Filipino children from sexual abuse and exploitation until all are safe. To report information about online child sexual exploitation, individuals can contact the Philippine National Police – Women and Children Protection Center.

To date, IJM has supported Philippine authorities in rescuing close to 1,300 victims and children-at-risk, and apprehending nearly 400 suspected perpetrators, with over 230 convictions.

For reporting online child sexual exploitation, contact the Philippine National Police – Women and Children Protection Center at 0966-725-5961 (Globe) or 0919-777-7377 (Smart).