Name: John Carlo R.
Esparagoza
Grade & Section: 11-Chromium
We need to protect our children from online sexual abuse and exploitation
BY MANILA BULLETIN
The internet, source of so much information and opportunities for growth, is showing its “dark side” through the
many reports on cybercrimes. Scams that defraud people of hard-earned money; disinformation that has caused
misguided decisions; and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children are among the cybercrimes that have
been in the news lately.
Of all the cybercrimes, online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child sexual abuse and
exploitation materials (CSAEM) require special attention because our children are the future.
On Thursday, April 25, President Marcos, who “was visibly distressed, very bothered and clearly stressed with
the information that was relayed to him” ordered government agencies concerned to further intensify the efforts
and “show no mercy to offenders in eradicating all forms of child abuse.”
The President ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Philippine National Police (PNP),
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other agencies in the national coordinating center to intensify the
fight against OSAEC and CSAEM, and “come down on perpetrators with the full weight of the law.”
Fighting online sexual exploitation of children is not easy because as authorities have said, “It is a borderless
and hidden crime, it happens mostly in the home and is likely facilitated by trusted guardians and sometimes
parents.”
Families will likely cover up because sexual abuse is not an easy topic to talk about. Studies have shown that 23
to 38 percent of the children who are victims do not tell anyone about their bad experience.
In 2022, a study conducted by UNICEF, ECPAT International, and Interpol showed that 20 percent of Filipino
children aged 12 to 17 – or two million children – who are using the internet had been victims of online sexual
abuse and exploitation. In 2016, another UNICEF study revealed that the Philippines was the center of child
sex abuse materials production in the world.
We have laws to guard against these crimes, one of them Republic Act 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or
Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act. The DOJ reported that
convictions have increased since the passage of the law in 2022.
We laud the President’s swift action to order government agencies to “show no mercy” to offenders and we trust
that the dedication of the law enforcement authorities will prevent the increased incidence of this crime against
our children.
The problem also needs the attention of the private sector, especially in the communities, churches, and homes.
Talking about the presence of this crime victimizing our children should be encouraged to deepen awareness
and initiate action. With the family’s and the community’s support, victims can be encouraged to talk and report
the crime.
There have been other initiatives to fight OSAEC. In 2019, SaferKidsPH, an initiative of the Australian
government, in partnership with the UNICEF, Save the Children, and The Asia Foundation, was launched to
“addresses online sexual exploitation and abuse of children by raising national awareness of the problem and
supporting stronger implementation of laws and policies that protect children.” In 2020, during the pandemic
when an increase in this form of cybercrime was seen, the UNICEF and partners worked with the National
Telecommunications Commission to expand the awareness program through text blast.
This is the time for the private sector to get into partnerships to fight this crime that threatens the next
generation of Filipinos.
Before reading the article ask yourself the following questions:
1. Why are you reading the article?
I'm diving into this editorial because the article on protecting children from online sexual abuse and
exploitation. Before diving into the content, I considered the importance of safeguarding our children in
today's digital age.
2. What do you hope to learn as you read it?
Before delving into the article, it's essential to ask yourself the following questions: Why am I reading
this piece? What knowledge do I aim to gain from it? This approach will help focus your reading and
understanding of the content.
Name: John Carlo R. Esparagoza Date: April 29. 2024
Title: We need to protect our children from online sexual abuse and exploitation
Author: Manila Bulletin
Paragraph and page no. Answer/s with supporting detail/s
What issue is given focus Multiple paragraphs The focus given by the writer is on the online
by the writer? sexual abuse and exploitation of children,
particularly in the context of cybercrimes and
the need for concerted efforts to combat this
serious problem.
Supporting details:
The writer highlights the prevalence of
online sexual abuse and exploitation of
children, emphasizing the need for
special attention to protect children,
who are the future.
President Marcos has ordered
government agencies to intensify efforts
and come down hard on offenders
perpetrating online sexual abuse and
exploitation of children.
The complexity of fighting this crime is
discussed, noting that it often occurs in
the home and may involve trusted
guardians or parents, making it a
challenging and hidden crime to
address.
Statistics are provided, such as the
UNICEF study showing that a
significant percentage of Filipino
children using the internet have been
victims of online sexual abuse and
exploitation.
Mention of laws like Republic Act
11930 aimed at combating these crimes
and the reported increase in convictions
since its enactment in 2022.
The importance of involving the private
sector, communities, churches, and
homes in raising awareness and taking
action against online sexual abuse and
exploitation of children is emphasized.
Initiatives like SaferKidsPH and
partnerships with organizations like
UNICEF and Save the Children are
highlighted as efforts to address and
prevent online sexual exploitation of
children.
The call for increased partnerships in
the private sector to combat this crime
and protect the future generation of
Filipinos is made.
Is the writer able to take Paragraph 9 Yes, the writer is able to take a clear stand on
a clear stand on this the issue of protecting children from online
issue? sexual abuse and exploitation. The writer
praises President Marcos' swift action in
ordering government agencies to intensify
efforts against offenders and expresses trust in
law enforcement authorities to prevent the
increased incidence of these crimes.
Additionally, the writer emphasizes the need
for the private sector's involvement in
addressing and combating online sexual
exploitation of children.
What is the writer's Paragraphs 1-4 The writer’s purpose in writing the article is to
purpose writing the raise awareness about the alarming issue of
article? online sexual abuse and exploitation of
children, emphasize the importance of
protecting children from such crimes, highlight
the actions taken by the government and
various organizations to combat these crimes,
and call for collective efforts from both the
public and private sectors to address and
prevent this serious problem.
Paragraph 1: The writer highlights the dark
side of the internet, specifically focusing on
cybercrimes like online sexual abuse and
exploitation of children, and stresses the need
for special attention to this issue due to the
vulnerability of children.
Paragraph 2: The writer discusses President
Marcos’ response to the issue, ordering
government agencies to intensify efforts and
take strict actions against offenders to eradicate
all forms of child abuse.
Paragraph 3: The writer acknowledges the
challenges in fighting online sexual
exploitation of children, including the hidden
nature of the crime and the reluctance of
families to talk about it, and emphasizes the
importance of creating awareness and
encouraging reporting.
Paragraph 4: The writer mentions statistics on
the prevalence of online sexual abuse and
exploitation among Filipino children,
highlighting the urgency of addressing this
issue in the country.
Overall, the writer’s purpose is to shed light on
the severity of online sexual abuse and
exploitation of children, advocate for stronger
enforcement of laws, and call for collaborative
efforts to protect children from these crimes.
What is the writer’s Paragraphs 1, 4, and 5 The writer's tone in the provided text is serious,
tone? Why? concerned, and urgent. This tone is evident
throughout the text as the writer discusses the
alarming issue of online sexual abuse and
exploitation of children. The writer expresses
deep concern for the safety and well-being of
children, highlighting the importance of taking
immediate action to address this critical issue
(Paragraph 1). The urgency is further
emphasized by citing statistics and reports that
underscore the severity of the problem, such as
the high percentage of Filipino children who
have been victims of online sexual abuse and
exploitation (Paragraph 4). The writer also
praises the President's decisive action and calls
for collaboration between government
agencies, law enforcement, the private sector,
and communities to combat this crime
effectively (Paragraph 5). Overall, the tone
conveys a sense of responsibility, advocacy,
and a call to action to protect children from
harm.
Does the writer's assume Answer corresponds to the entire The writer assumes that the readers will agree
the readers to agree with text with their stand on the importance of protecting
his/her stand? children from online sexual abuse and
exploitation. This assumption is evident
throughout the article, particularly in the
language used to emphasize the severity of the
issue, the call for action from both government
agencies and the private sector, and the praise
for the President's directive to intensify efforts
in combating these crimes. The writer also
highlights the existing laws and initiatives
aimed at addressing online sexual abuse of
children, indicating a belief in the necessity of
collective support and action to protect children
from such crimes.
What are the evidence Paragraph 7 & 10 Paragraph 7: The writer presents evidence
presented by the writer from a 2022 study by UNICEF, ECPAT
to support his argument? International, and Interpol, showing that 20
percent of Filipino children aged 12 to 17,
approximately two million children, who use
the internet have been victims of online sexual
abuse and exploitation. Additionally, a 2016
UNICEF study identified the Philippines as a
major center for the production of child sexual
abuse materials globally.
Paragraph 10: The writer mentions Republic
Act 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or
Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual
Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act, as a legal
framework in place to combat these crimes.
The Department of Justice reported an increase
in convictions since the law was enacted in
2022, indicating progress in addressing online
sexual abuse and exploitation of children
through legal means.
