MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Magandang umaga, Malacañang Press Corps, and welcome sa ating press briefing ngayon, June 5.

In yesterday’s sectoral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Comprehensive and Intensive Action Plan to combat online sexual abuse and exploitation of children or OSAEC and child sexual abuse and exploitation materials or CSAEM was presented.

President Marcos ordered a centralized system for detecting and reporting OSAEC cases using technology and specialized cybercrime mechanisms. OSAEC and CSAEM are borderless and hidden crimes that make all Filipino children vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse. In line with the all of government and whole of society approach, President Marcos ordered all relevant agencies to put the protection of children first and at the center of all programs and policies.

The President ordered the Philippine National Police and all agencies to clamp down on perpetrators engaged in making, processing and distributing child sexual abuse materials with the full weight of the law.

The Philippines was once one of the global hotspots for OSAEC and the production of CSAEM. Now, under the leadership of President Marcos, the Philippines will emerge as one of the global leaders in preventing these crimes against our children.

The president himself said, and I quote, “The Philippines is not a safe haven for people who abused and exploit children. This is the absolute worst place for you, and we will make sure you know it.”

Since the war against OSAEC and CSAEM is a police matter and a priority, we have no less than the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government Benjamin Abalos Jr. And we are also joined by the Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano and National Coordination Center (NCC) against OSAEC and CSAEM Executive Director Atty. Margarita Magsaysay. Good morning. Go ahead, Secretary.

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Of course, magandang umaga, Daphne, Mico, Kit, at sa lahat po ng mga nanunood.

Alam ninyo po, ang ating pangulo, ang sabi niya kahapon ‘no, napakasama nitong krimen na ito – this is the worst of all crimes dahil ito’y laban sa mga bata. Kaya ang nangyari po ritong approach, hindi lamang po ang pulis ang gagalaw dito; ito ay inter-agency, ito ay pinagsama-samang lakas ng gobyerno. Nandirito na po, of course, ang kapulisyahan. Tapos nandirito na rin po ang Department of Justice para sila po ang magpo-prosecute. Kasama na rin po ang DSWD at iba pang ahensiya tungkol po rito. Pinagsanib-puwersa po ito at lahat ay gagalaw po rito, at importante po rito, of course, iyong pagsusumbungan sa pinakababa – sa barangay level.

Kaya nga ito, sa ngalan po ng DILG at sa ngalan po ng PNP ay i-report ko lang po dahil mamaya sa Department of Justice, si Atty. Kit at si Asec. Mico po ang mag-i-explain about this: Mayroon po tayong mga VAWC desk ‘no. Ano po itong VAWC desk na ito? Ito iyong violence against women and children. Ang importante kasi, sabi nga ng pangulo, saan magsusumbong ang bata? Kanino magsusumbong ito? At pagsumbong sa barangay, alam ba ng barangay kung ano ang gagawin?

So dapat dito ay ika-capacitate po natin. Kaya napag-usapan kahapon at gagawin po natin, ika-capacitate po ito, in fact ilalagay rin po natin ito as part of the seal of good local governance ‘no. Lalagyan po natin ng tinatawag na parameters ito sa lahat ng mga barangay at local government units sa buong Pilipinas. Iyan po ay imamandato ng DILG na sila ay magkaroon ng mga seminars dito.

Pangalawa is the adoption of ordinance, ito muna ho sa ano ng DILG, against OSAEC and CSAEM ‘no. Gagawin na rin po nating mandatory ito na magkaroon ng local ordinance at magkakaroon tayo ng template ng model ordinance para iyong iba ay gayahin po nila. Hindi lamang po ito barangay, kasama na ang munisipiyo, kasama na ang mga lungsod.

Pangalawang indicators is the percentage ng local government unit staff at social service workforce who will be trained to implement special protection laws, including online sexual abuse, exploitation and child sexual abuse or exploitation materials. So ilalagay din po namin ito as indicators doon po sa aming child-friendly local governance na kinakailangan na ma-train iyong mga staff po nila dito. Tapos po, iyon pong number of reports ng local social welfare development to whom a report of a suspected or alleged incident made, kailangan po i-document po nila ito para malaman namin kung ano na po ang nangyari.

Tapos mayroon pong pinapasa ngayon, tinatawag po nating Local Code for Children, dapat po i-include po itong Republic Act 11930. At, of course, sa kanilang mga programs, projects and activities, kinakailangan kasama po ito, itong mga programang ito against children lalo na iyong tinatawag nating “Safer Internet Day for Children of the Philippines”, kasi alam ninyo, basta titingin ka ng internet ngayon, dapat din iyong mga bata ay maging safe din dito; ito ay responsibilidad ng mga magulang. Kung kaya’t ilalagay na rin namin ito as one of those dito po sa mga gagawin naming programa dito po sa DILG, sa mga local government units.

Sa ngalan naman ng mga kapulisan—sayang wala lang si Portia rito, napakagaling po noon, siya ang head ng aming children and women’s desk – marami pong nagawang mga pag-aaresto, pagri-rescue ng mga bata. In fact, ang proseso po nito ay mayroon silang cyber patrolling. Pagkatapos ng cyber patrolling, titingnan po nila iyong mga nagri-report sa kanila at tapos po pa-file-an po nila ng mga kaso po ito. Pero ang importante po talaga rito sa ating mga kapulisyahan ay, sabi nga ng presidente, bata iyan eh – iyong pagsusumbong. Kasi kung minsan hindi naman lahat ng bata ay magpupunta sa pulis, magpupunta sa barangay. So dapat ma-identify natin kung sino ang kinakausap nila, at ito ang mga sektor na ito ang talagang iano natin, talagang isama natin sa programa.

Kanina kausap ko ang mga SK, nanumpa sila sa ating mahal na pangulo, tutulong po ang mga SK, mga youth ‘no kasi ultimo sila o sa mga kapitan natin, kailangang ma-capacitate rin po sila rito.

So, briefly, pasensiya na kayo napahaba lang, ito po ang ginagawa namin at we just came from … ako, galing lang ako sa United Nations … UNODC, ito rin ang pinag-usapan just about a week ago. At may mga reports nga na, iyong sinabi kanina ni Daphne na medyo may problema tayo rito dahil may mga reports sa kanila ng isang NGO na medyo maraming kaso. Ang United Arab Emirates ay magbibigay sa atin, sa pulis, nangako po sila ng 21 artificial intelligence programs kung saan mapi-filter natin lahat ng mga sumbong para matukoy natin ano iyong fake dito, ano ang hindi? Sino ba ito talaga? Kasi kung minsan iyong mga reports, hindi pala Philippines, ibang lahi pala. Kung minsan mga fake account ito, kung minsan nagdodoble, kung minsan luma na ‘no. So malaking tulong, and not only that, nagsisimula na po, tumutulong po sila sa tools dito at saka mga programs ukol po rito.

So iyon po at isa pang gusto ko sanang sabihin – last na lang – na sinabi ko rin doon sa isang side events sa United Nations na galit ang aming pangulo rito; puproteksiyunan natin ang mga bata. But if you’re going to look at the cycle, ito iyong mga batang binibiktima eh. Malaki dapat ang papel ng mga technological provider – Facebook/Meta, etc. – kinakailangan ang papel nila rito ay ma-take down nila ito. At higit sa lahat, higit sa lahat, ang dapat maparusahan dito ay ang consumers, ang mga aktuwal na nagda-download ng mga materyales na ito ng mga minor. Kaya nga I was asking the … in that meeting, I was asking for the UN, specifically iyong mga bansa, to enact laws na talagang parusahan iyong mga nagda-download o mga nagbabayad lalo na mga menor de edad ito eh, mga bata ito – they should. Kung ang mga bata ay kawawa, dapat iyong consumers talaga ay talagang maparusahan.

Thank you, Daphne.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Thank you, Secretary Abalos. Let’s move on to the DOJ – ED Kit.

DOJ ATTY. MAGSAYSAY: So the meeting yesterday was actually a continuation noong unang meeting namin with the President noong April 24, 2024. So, this time around we showed to him iyong magiging action plan natin to combat OSAEC. And you know, OSAEC ay matagal na talagang inilalaban ito ng government kaya lang with the creation ngayon ng National Coordination Center Against OSAEC and CSAEM, we were able to coordinate the efforts of the member agencies and really understand iyong nuances and complexities ng OSAEC.

Nagkaroon kami ng mga strategy meetings kasama ng mga NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM members at mga core group members at talagang inintindi namin ano talaga kailangan una nating i-prioritize para labanan ito, and we came up with six pillars ‘no po. The six pillars that we identified – so, unang-una, ang unang-unang pillar our area of prioritization is improvement on our referral pathways and mechanisms; pangalawa po, ay we need to also improve on our capacity building; pangatlo, we have to improve on our communications; number four, our aftercare services; number five, on our private sector engagement – katulad ng sinasabi ni Secretary Abalos kanina po; at number six, on data harmonization.

So unang-una, with regard to the referral pathways and mechanisms – para po ito i-streamline ang process of OSAEC reporting para we po we can nip this crime in the bud; tapos naman po sa capacity building initiatives – it’s to ensure that our law enforcement, our judicial personnel at our duty bearers equipped with the necessary skills, tools and support when handling OSAEC operations and conducting investigations and pursuing more convictions; sa effective communication channels naman po, it’s to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders; while comprehensive aftercare services support victims on their path to recovery; engaging private sector naman, fosters a collective responsibility towards combating OSAEC; and harmonizing data ensures informed decision making within the criminal justice framework.

So, with this action plan we strongly believe that eventually we will be able to protect, heal and reintegrate the child into the mainstream of society. Ang strengthening the criminal justice system is actually embedded within all six pillars. So, if we are able to simultaneously implement all the interrelated six pillars, we will thereby also be strengthening our criminal justice system.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Thank you. Assistant Secretary Clavano.

DOJ ASEC. CLAVANO: Hi. Good morning to everyone. Daphne, Sir Benhur, ED Kit, good morning. Just to add to what Sec. Benhur and ED Kit mentioned, klaro po iyong naging direction ni Presidente ‘no – ang sa kaniya, protect the child and prosecute the perpetrators – iyon lang po iyong dalawang emphasis niya dahil po iyong six pillars na binanggit po ni ED Kit iyon po iyong siguro whole action plan or holistic kagaya noong sinabi ni Ma’am Daphne sa kaniyang opening spiel, whole-of-government approach is not enough; it has to be whole-of-nation, whole-of-society po ‘no.

And just to emphasize on the points of the president yesterday, sa referral pathways, sabi ni Presidente, hindi magri-report ang bata or we cannot assume na magri-report ang bata dahil hindi naman nila alam kung mali na pala iyong ginagawa sa kaniya noong mga magulang niya, mga kamag-anak niya at the same time hindi rin sila magri-report dahil kilala nila iyong mga perpetrators ‘no.

So, dito sa referral pathways, we have to make sure na iyong mga barangay officials po natin, iyong mga barangay leaders, community leaders alam po nila kung saan magri-report at dapat malaman nila kung may mga ganitong nangyayari sa kanila mismong mga barangay, mga area.

Pangalawa, iyong capacity building. Iyong sinabi ni Presidente tungkol dito sa capacity building marami po tayong duty bearers ‘no – mayroon tayong mga barangay officials; mayroon tayong mga social workers; law enforcement agents; prosecutors; judges – lahat po ito ay kailangan mag-align dahil kapag mayroon tayong nakitang gap sa proseso natin kumbaga magri-report ang isang barangay official pero hindi naman siya mabibigyan ng pansin ng ating mga judges or ng ating mga prosecutors or mayroon silang hindi…well, hindi sila familiar sa law sa pag-prosecute – kailangan po talaga lahat ay may capacity building or malaman nila kung ano talaga ang magiging proseso.

And in line with that kailangan din po na iyong mga experts ho natin sa WCPC, sa mga barangays ay iyong expertise ay tumaas and iyong turnover rate dapat bumaba dahil sa aming experience kung after na ma-train sila sa ganitong bagay, sa ganitong topic bigla silang iri-reassign sa ibang division. So, that’s one thing we also have to look at which was emphasized also by the president.

And the last pillar na talagang in-emphasize ni Presidente ay iyong aftercare services – iyong aftercare services po ay iyong pinaka-emphasize ni President kahapon dahil sabi niya, we have to give them another chance at a normal life. Kung mayroon po tayong mga shelters, temporary shelters or one-stop shops for the victims – dapat hindi sila tumagal doon – iyon po iyong bilin ni Presidente. At sabi niya, we have to give them back to the community – maybe through a distant relative who can take care of the child. Pero po iyong trauma po iyong gustong i-avoid ni Presidente na kung tumagal po sila sa isang shelter kasama nila iyong mga co-victims nila, iyong mga children who have also gone through abuse – they will no longer be able to come back to a normal life. So, the president was very keen to make his point…to give his point across na we have to find a way na ma-normalize ulit iyong mga buhay ng mga bata.

And he again reiterated throughout the whole meeting na we have to be victim centric in all our programs, in all our efforts dahil ang pinuproteksiyunan ho natin dito ay iyong mga bata, and on the other side of that iyong mga perpetrators po ay kailangan talagang parusahan kagaya po ng sinabi ni Sec. Benhur.

So, these are the things that the President emphasized. We presented him with the six pillars, with an executive order for his study and approval. And hopefully po, kapag na-sign na po iyong EO na iyon, mao-operationalize na po iyong six pillars, iyong aming programa and we can finally eradicate this gruesome crime. It’s very hard to think about the children who have gone through the abuse. There are statistics from all over the world, let’s say that maybe one out of 10 children undergo abuse before the age of 18 and these children as they grow, they have to live with the trauma, and this is something that we do not want for the next generation, we do not want for our future and the dreams of these children.

And we hope that the team that we setup with the NCC-OSAEC on top of this gruesome crime, we can finally collaborate and work with existing structures to make sure that we have a cohesive, whole-of-nation approach to finally to finally eradicate this crime. Thank you.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Thank you. We open the floor. Maricel Halili, TV 5.

MARICEL HALILI/TV 5: Hi. Magandang umaga po. Secretary, you mentioned earlier that you already coordinated with the United Nations para magkaroon ng policy, pero do we see other ways on how to run after the consumers because I understand mostly mga foreigners ito eh, ‘di ba. So, paano sila mapi-penalize, kasi we don’t have any control or power over the United Nations, so I wonder if we see other ways.

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Actually, in the United Nations there was…I was there for number one, it’s about drugs and there was another event, it was UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) in Vienna, Austria. Another event was about OSAEC and I believe it was Usec. Lapuz of DOJ who was there and I was also there.

And then, there was a side meeting, where I reiterated that if people are looking at the victims and we make sure that we will protect the victims as instructed by our president we will surely do that, maski hindi naman ito paramihan maski isa lang masakit sa dibdib iyan. It’s not about numbers, it’s about the crime itself ‘no.

Pero, sino ba ang gumagawa nito, ‘di ba iyong consumer, sino iyong nagda-download ‘di ba iyong consumer, dapat siguro tingnan iyong aspect na iyon that is why I was asking for the youth, for them for those who were present na baka pupuwede, that nations should enact laws against consumers. Kasi, kung mawawala ang nagko-consume malaking epekto iyong umo-order nito ‘no, not only…tatlo iyan eh, ito iyong victim, iyong gitna mo, iyong technology provider, you talk of Meta, et cetera, Facebook, et cetera at iyong pangatlo, iyong umo-order.

So, iyon ang sinasabi ko and I repeated that twice and I think one of the heads there, si Miss Martin iyong nasa gitna, she was moving doon nga sa level ng technology providers at nag-agree naman siya dito. And not only that, I believed si General [unclear] of the UAE, naniwala rin – consumers. And because of this napakaganda ng kanilang gesture that immediately they gave us 21 Artificial Intelligence programs and right now our police are undergoing the training here, iyong ating mga ano.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: And, sir, dito sa atin may nagla-lobby na po sa Senate and Congress to pass a law?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Yes, actually we are lobbying right now na sana gawin natin ito, that…ang pangulo nga sinasabi, ang pinakamasama dapat gawin natin ang lahat. So, kung naapektuhan ang bata dapat lamang…kasi every time na manood ka rin ng ganiyang materyales parang inuulit mo iyong krimen sa bata. So, dapat ang bumibili nito, ang gumagamit nito talagang makulong nang husto.

OSMEÑA-PAEZ: Allan Francisco, PTV4.

ALLAN FRANCISCO/ PTV4: Hi, ma’am. Hi, sirs. Marami pong nanunood sa ating ngayon, Secretary Abalos, para lang malinaw, paano iyong proseso in case mayroon tayong kababayan na biktima nga po nito, pupunta muna sa barangay anong gagawin ng barangay, paki-explain, sir?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Actually, kaya nagkaroon ng ganitong grupo to make it more effective. Kasi ang nangyayari noong araw pupunta sa barangay, magrireklamo kay barangay…pero sabagay, may mga VAWC naman tayo doon eh, may mga policewoman naman tayo na nandoon. Pupunta sa korte, tapos anong gagawin sa bata, saan mo dadalhin, sa DSWD ba, tapos nito during hearing papaano iyong after care nito et cetera, et cetera.

So with this group pinag-sama-sama na lahat ng involved para wala ng lituhan. Pagpunta kaagad sa barangay, papasok na lahat ito, sama-sama na kami. So, hindi lang iyon, importante pagpunta mo ng barangay dapat iyong barangay mo alam niya ang gagawin niya. Kung hindi siya capacitated ‘no, mahirap hindi niya alam kung papaano kakausapin iyong bata, unang-una ‘no.

Umpisahan muna natin, number one, papaano ho nalalaman kung bata ay biktima? Dapat i-train ninyo rito iyong mga teacher, daycare center, i-train mo iyong mga barangay na teka muna bakit iyong…ito iyong bilin nga pala ng ating pangulo at ito iyong pinag-usapan namin kahapon ha, kasi hindi raw magsusumbong ang bata, so dapat tini-train mo on the ground. Pangalawa, awareness sa publiko, kasi kung minsan may mga batang tumatahamik, may mga sugat hindi nagsasalita, lumalagpak.

Pero alamin mo rin maigi, baka mamaya naman nagkamali ka, baka talagang may sakit lang iyon ‘di ba kawawa naman iyong maiturong na ganoon. So, dapat ma-train kung kanino dadalhin noong mga taga-barangay ito. So iyon ang actually ginagawa namin para mas ipo-focus namin ngayon through this group, tuturuan at hindi lamang iyon, lalagyan namin, gagawing mandatory na ito through the DILG – ordinance, capacity training on the ground, grassroots.

Pangalawa, nandiyan naman ang VAWC desk ng mga pulis, ganoon din ang mangyayari. Pangatlo, pagdating po rito, ayan na magti-take over na sila, sila sa prosecution ‘no, to make sure sa fiscal, sa ganito. Pero, iyong sabi nga ng ating pangulo, after all of these things, tetestigo iyong bata parang inuulit mo sa kaniya eh, inuulit mo iyong experience eh. So, how do you protect the child, ang sabi nga ng Pangulo kahapon, it is always for the best interest of the child kung saan siya. Kasi, kung ilalayo mo siya, para siya pa iyong naging ano eh, kaya dapat daw hanggat maaari kung mayroon kamag-anak, i-background mo ibigay mo roon o alagaan mo, anuhin nang husto o in the same committee. So, iyan po ang ginagawa po namin ngayon.

OSMEÑA-PAEZ: You asked about how we can tell if the child is being abused. So, the government had its approach, we have a law, we have the DOJ and the DILG. But in a household level, since we have people watching on TV, ang mga magulang ay puwedeng i-check ang mga telepono ng mga anak ninyo; minor sila, it is your responsibility na alamin ano ang ginagawa ng anak ninyo online.

Kapag iyong mga—Tingnan ninyo kung bakit suddenly may mga Gcash or o Paymaya sila, alamin kung saan galing ang pera, sa mga ganoon dapat it goes back also to parenting. Of course, the state is doing all we can, but as parents and guardians responsibilidad din natin iyan.

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: One more thing ‘no, at ito iyong wina-warning ko lahat ng mga barangay, hindi na puwedeng mag-settle dito, hindi puwedeng mag-settle, I’m warning you, sa lahat ng mga nanunood ngayon. Mga bata dito ang biktima, ito’y krimen hindi ito sasabihing kamera na nakatutok na ganoon, kasi may ganiyang thinking eh, sabihin ‘di ba camera lang iyan, No! Ke camera, ke ano iyan ito’y krimen laban sa bata. Kaya kung sino man ang makikipag-settle dito, I will make sure makukulong din kayo, I will make of that, we will make sure of that. Iyan ang proseso kaya iyan ang utos sa amin ng ating mahal na pangulo, thank you.

DOJ ATTY. MAGSAYSAY: Can I add to that. So, sa barangay ‘no, once the barangay kasi receives report, simple lang dapat ang ginagawa niya, dapat ini-endorse na agad sa law enforcement authority. Ang nangyayari ngayon, sabi nga Sec, sini-settle na kasi sa level nila, siguro it’s to maintain family harmony or whatever, pero hindi iyon puwede, it’s not, it shouldn’t be settled at door level.

Why you shouldn’t be settled at door level? Because, hindi na nakakarating iyong OSAEC complaints sa law enforcement agency, note – there’s no justice that is brought to the child victim survivor and the perpetrator could still be in the community, potentially victimizing other children.

So, very simple ‘no, they just have to take sa logbook nila, they are not even supposed to interview or make any assessment of the child, bibigay lang talaga sa law enforcement agency and the law enforcement agency will take it on from there.

OSMEÑA-PAEZ: Jinky Baticados, IBC.

JINKY BATICADOS/IBC.: Good morning po. Secretary, si DSWD Secretary Gatchalian, sinabi niya that sometimes iyong Facebook because doon nga nagpo-post ‘no, sometimes unresponsive and we cannot deny the fact na mayroon po talagang lapses, ano po ang plano natin dito?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Well actually ‘no, makikipag-coordinate pala kami at uupo kami with them, this is one of things na unang-una naming gagawin because this is very important. Hindi puwedeng maging unresponsive sa ganitong bagay dapat this is immediate. So, probably, within the week if not next week, we will sort it out and all with Facebook and all others, it is important.

Iyong kanina nga palang issue, kasi minor ito eh kung ang nangbibiktima ang magulang mismo, ang state doon ang tinatawag na parens patriae doctrine, ibig sabihin ito iyong tumatayong magulang ang estado na kaya hindi puwedeng…nabiktima na iyang bata, ginanoon pa ng magulang tapos iyong barangay isi-settle pa, hindi pupuwede iyon, hindi talaga pupuwede iyon.

And we’re going to document each and every case from now on, lahat po ito. That’s why, I have…sinabihan ko na ang aming mga women’s desk about this na lahat po ito, it should be documented. Kasi tama po si Kit, tama po si Mico, ang masaklap dito ay bago pumunta sa pulis sin-settle na sa ibaba, iyon ang masamang-masama roon.

OSMEÑA-PAEZ: Eden Santos, Net25.

EDEN SANTOS/ NET25: Congratulation muna po kay Sec doon sa maganda niyang ano sa isang TV po ‘no, iyong participation. Sir, kailan po natin planong ipatupad iyong sinasabi ninyong nationwide seminar and training sa ating mga barangay official at saka po hindi kaya maging warning ninyo na iyong mga barangay officials eh, ‘Naku, tumuloy na lang sa pulis at baka madamay pa kami diyan’, parang something like that?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Well, hindi naman. Ang sinasabi lang namin huwag silang mag-aareglo, iyon lang ang point dito. Kasi bata ito eh, I mean, iba ang bata inaalalayan dahil menor de edad nga, tapos let’s say kalaban iyong magulang ganito ‘no, they should always think of the best interest of the child dito.

Ganito iyan kasi, mayroon na kaming existing ano ngayon ‘no, may ginagawa ang DOJ, may ginagawa ang pulis. In fact, mayroon na kaming telephone number, hintayin ninyo na lang ia-announce iyong magandang naisip ng ating pangulo na pangalan po rito, unified ito mayroong telephone number et cetera.

But while we are waiting for that, mayroon namang pansamantalang ginagamit na telephone number ang kapulisan, gamitin ninyo rin muna at gagalaw kami maski wala na po ito. Iyong capacity building sisimulan na po, makikipag-meet ako sa Department of Justice iyong mga tao ninyo puwedeng magbaba at iyong ginagawa ng kapulisan na seminar ngayon itutuloy pa rin ito. At hindi lang iyon, gagawin lang nga namin itong requirement, requirement na ito – mandatory requirement na ito sa LGUs, doon sa child-friendly ano namin, aspect.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Ivan Mayrina, GMA-7.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA-7: Secretary, while we are pushing to capacitate the barangays and the local governments, are we also contemplating on imposing sanctions perhaps for halimbawa, barangay officials who may prove to be negligent na these things are happening under their noses? Or for example, iyong mga social media platforms, if they turn out to be unresponsive or uncooperative dito sa ating campaign?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Well, as much as possible ‘no, actually we have an ongoing capacity building, pero siguro this will be more focused on each and every one of them. But what is important here, Ivan, is that iyong kakulangan ‘no o kaya tinalikuran ang bata eh – kasi wala nang pupuntahan iyan eh, bata iyan eh, menor de edad iyan eh tapos tatalikuran mo pa, hindi pupuwede iyon. Talagang iyan, talagang may sanction kami diyan. Hindi puwedeng walang sanction iyan, we’ll see to it may administrative cases kaming ipa-file diyan.

Pero what is important nga dahil every barangay may mga VAWC desk naman kami, kaya nga I will inform immediately iyong pulis, talagang to take note of all of these things. Kasi alam mo kung minsan, sa barangay magkakakilala eh, magkakapitbahay, magkakamag-anak – o, i-save natin iyong pamilya …

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA-7: Kaya lang ho baka magtakipan.

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Magtakipan, iyan ang mabigat at iyan madalas ang nangyayari on the ground.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA-7: So, puwede ho silang makasuhan doon, puwede silang madamay?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Yes. Kaya nga ito, hindi puwedeng i-settle ito sa barangay. Hindi puwede, yeah. Maski magkakamag-anak, kaya nga doon nga nangyayari, iyon nga masaklap dito eh.

Yeah, please. Sige.

DOJ ATTY. MAGSAYSAY: Siguro to add on to that, I remember one reporter asked me: “Can you estimate how many OSAEC incidents are underreported?” That’s exactly it, kapag hindi na dumadating sa law enforcement agency kasi sini-settle na sa barangay. Those are what we are saying na underreported cases of OSAEC – sini-settle na sa barangay iyan.

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: And you know what? Media has a big role here. Malaki ang papel ninyo po rito for awareness and we really need your help ‘no to make people aware of what’s happening on the ground. Magtulungan lang po tayo rito and every time na may mga ganitong project, we will immediately inform you. Thank you.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Chona Yu, People’s Journal.

CHONA YU/PEOPLE’S JOURNAL: Quick follow up, ma’am, iyong underreported. Ilan po iyong reported na cases ngayon dito sa Pilipinas? What is the trend? Is it alarming po?

DOJ ATTY. MAGSAYSAY: I think nasagot namin ito last time, iyong sa… when we say reported kasi, iyong umabot na sa LEA [Law Enforcement Agency]. I think General Portia was able to say ‘no kung ilan na na-report sa kanilang mga cases. I can get back to you on that question kasi mayroon akong ano niyan, data about that.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Alexis Romero, Philippine Star.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Kay Secretary or kay Atty. Magsaysay. What specific liabilities sa batas iyong kahaharapin noong mga barangay officials na nagpahintulot ng areglo or settlement noong kasong ganito?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Before, Mico ‘no, ito – iyong 214 cases referrals, I think this is just for four years ‘no, four years; tapos 98 operations conducted, 413 rescued victims, 88 arrested and 38 convicted. Okay, so this is the latest… can we look at the timeline nito? Anong years ito? Ulitin ko: 214 case referrals from PICACC, 98 operations conducted, 413 rescued victims, 88 arrested and so far, 38 convicted – 2019 to 2024. Okay, this is 2019 to 2024.

Mico, please.

DOJ ASEC. CLAVANO: To answer po iyong question about the liability noong mga barangay officials po ‘no. Under Section 4 of RA 11930 which is the Anti-OSAEC Law, mayroon po tayong Letter E which is to permit or influence the child to engage, participate or assist in any form of CSAEM. Iyong sa tingin po namin na puwedeng pumasok iyong mga barangay officials, iyong permitting – kung umaabot na po sa level ng ‘willful negligence’ na sinasabi ho ‘no. So, kung negligence lang, baka admin case po iyan… ang weighing liability. Pero kung mayroon na siyang willful negligence, meaning to say talagang he’s turning a blind eye deliberately na medyo alam niya na may nangyayaring ganoon, puwede siyang pumasok dito.

Further from that ‘no, Letter K – to knowingly benefit from financial or otherwise the commission of any of the offenses of this act, puwede rin silang pumasok doon if it is proven that they have financial benefits from the crime going on sa kanilang barangay.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: At iyong mga kaparusahan po tungkol doon?

DOJ ASEC. CLAVANO: The heaviest is life imprisonment. So, for Letters A, B, C, D, E – E iyong pinag-usapan ho natin – this act shall suffer the penalty… so violation of this act shall suffer the penalty of life imprisonment or a fine not less than two million pesos. Iyon po ang penalty para sa prohibited acts po under RA 11930.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Asec, balikan ko lang iyong nabanggit ninyong proposed EO about it. Maaari po bang magbigay ng mas marami pang detalye?

DOJ ASEC. CLAVANO: Basically po, iyong binanggit po ni Executive Director Kit kanina tungkol sa six pillars, nagbigay po kami ng detalye kung paano i-operationalize iyong six pillars. So iyon po ang magiging content ‘no noong EO na iyong six pillars, i-introduce po sa ating lahat tapos magbibigay po ng mga detalye kung paano i-operationalize at i-strengthen po iyong six pillars na iyon. And that will be the guide and serve as the ‘Bible’ of law enforcement agencies, of prosecutors, judges and all those involved ‘no, stakeholders and duty bearers against the crime of OSAEC.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay, Pia Gutierrez—oh, before we move on to other issues, let’s finish—okay, Racquel Bayan.

RACQUEL BAYAN/RADYO PILIPINAS: Kay Secretary Abalos. Sir, iyong binabanggit ninyo pong local ordinance kanina, how soon can we expect that, sir?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Actually ‘no, ibibigay pa lang namin iyong MC rito. Give us about a month, okay.

RACQUEL BAYAN/RADYO PILIPINAS: And then, sir, iyong 21 na artificial intelligence, nandito na po sa bansa, sir?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Wala pa but we’re in constant touch with the… Lieutenant [unclear]. Ito’y dahil kay… iyong counterpart ko kasi, the Ministry of the Interior, his name is Sheikh Saif ‘no, so naging close tayo sa kaniya – isa rito ay si Lieutenant [unclear] at iyong pinaka-head ng Interpol ngayon is also from UAE ‘no. In fact, ano ko lang sa inyo that we have one case na tinutulungan nila tayo and this is a sexual predator who’s now based in UAE – maraming nabiktimang mga bata ito. I’ll keep you updated ‘no pero mukhang magandang development naman.

RACQUEL BAYAN/RADYO PILIPINAS: And, sir, once na nandito na po sa bansa ay magamit na po ng law enforcement natin, gaano po kalaki iyong maaambag doon sa…?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Naku! Malaking tulong ito because you know, ang problema rito, these are all cybercrimes eh – and cybercrimes is a… iyon nga pala sinabi ng presidente kahapon during our command conference, talagang iyong kung anong kailangan ng pulisya tungkol dito sa… budget or whatever, tutulong nang husto ang ating mahal na pangulo, itong cybercrime.

So, itong AI na ito, it could filter itong lahat ng report. Kasi kung minsan, may cyber patrolling na tinatawag eh – itong cyber patrolling titingnan mo lahat ng mga web, pati sa dark web ‘no. Pero kung minsan bato lang sila nang bato – kung minsan nagdodoble iyan, kung minsan hindi naman Filipino, mga ibang lahi pala, mukhang Filipino lang ‘no. So kung mapi-filter at matuturo mo kung saan kaagad ito at hindi lamang iyon, dapat maano rin natin iyong saan nagbabayad ito ‘no – importante sa lahat iyon kung saan nagbabayad ‘no.

So, these are things na talagang makakatulong ang international community ‘no. At in fact ngayon, iyon ang ginagawa namin – mayroon kaming collaboration with other countries.

RACQUEL BAYAN/RADYO PILIPINAS: Lastly na lang po from my end. Usec, kanina po mentioned pinapalakas natin iyong communication laban sa OSAEC and CSAEM. Ano na po kaya iyong mga ginagawa natin? Mayroon po ba tayong partnership with private sector on this?

DOJ ATTY. MAGSAYSAY: Yeah. So, iyong sa private sector engagement, that’s a different pillar from the improved communications. Sa improved communications kasi, what we realized talaga is that OSAEC is still considered a taboo – no one wants to talk about it ‘no. So, we want to create… madami kaming pinu-post na action items. Unang-una, we’re going to… we’re gonna have two categories for improved communications – one on the macro level and one in the micro level. So, we’re gonna create catch phrases, we’re going to utilize din iyong mga government-owned broadcast stations to give us free advertisements laban po sa OSAEC. Tapos binanggit din siguro sa mga news ‘no, may lalabas doon na banner na what hotline or help line you can call. So it’s really just getting it out there – what is OSAEC, because not many are still familiar with that.

Sa private sector engagement naman, tulad nga ng sabi ni Asec. Mico and Secretary Abalos, it is continuous engagement with private companies. We want to be able to access their portals para iyong mga easy reporting, mga whitelisting of our emails so that we can easily take down mga CSAEM online. So ganoon po ‘no.

So basically sa improved communications, what we really want to get across is that we don’t want to be known anymore as a global hotspot for OSAEC. Sabi nga ni Miss Daphne kanina, we will become a global leader in addressing OSAEC.

So ayun po, that’s what we’re in constant communication … we have our spokesperson, si Asec. Mico, also included sa TWG meetings namin was Asec. Daphne too, helps us understand how we can improve our communications in getting across.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: I just want to go back to the—to put into context, you’re asking, Jinky, about what the international community is doing with this. I have been on this fight against OSAEC since 2018. I was associated with the UN agency as a goodwill ambassador, and this was my focus. So since then, other countries have also been preparing legislation. There are countries like the UK, they have an online safety bill; Australia was one of the leaders and they help the Philippines as early as 2018; the EU and the US – because we have to deal with the demand and the supply side.

Now, to give you context, what the Philippines has done. Our anti-OSAEC law is actually very well cited and very respected; we are a leader in fighting OSAEC. And having the support of the president and prioritizing this is a major, major push against the fight.

I remember the president in the last meeting when he said, if there’s one thing that he can—kung isa lang ang magagawa niya, gusto niya ito to end this dahil hindi naman puwede we are on our way to becoming upper-middle income country, you know, and high-income country in 2040 na ang mga bata natin, ang mga anak natin ay vulnerable at talagang biktima ng OSAEC at CSAEM. So as early as now, talagang tinututukan ng ating gobyerno and ng private sector, iyon!

Any more questions before we go on? Other topic na? Okay.

Q: Asec. Clavano, baka you have details on the raid sa POGO sa Porac, Pampanga?

DOJ ASEC. CLAVANO: I probably have to reserve my briefing when I have more details dahil kaninang madaling araw lang nangyari iyong POGO raid na iyon. But we can confirm that there was POGO raid up in Clark.

Q: Follow-up lang po kay Secretary. Sir, with the charges filed against Mayor Guo for allowing illegal POGOs operating in Bamban, are we also going to look into the possible involvement or kung hindi naman ay negligence ng mga LGUs na may illegal POGOs in their area to make them liable for allowing these illegal POGOs to operate?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Actually, ang nangyari dito, nag-create ako ng task force. And this task force found out na there was this cease and desist order coming from PAGCOR. However, hindi sinunod ng alkalde ito, ni Mayor Guo; pinabayaan niyang ituloy pa rin ang operasyon ‘no. So dahil dito ay dinemanda siya at we even requested na for the meantime, magkaroon siya ng preventive suspension, which was granted by the Ombudsman on the basis that, of course, if she is the mayor, she has influence over the personnel and she has the control of the records – baka ma-compromise. So that is what we were avoiding.

So it is on that basis that the cases were filed against her by this task force. But what has granted now, of course, was the preventive suspension by the Ombudsman. Thank you.

DARRYL ESGUERRA/PNA: Hi, sir. To SILG po. Aside from cyber security na na-mention ninyo kanina, ano pa po iyong mga napag-usapan kahapon sa PNP command conference and ano po iyong mga naging directives ni Presidente?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Marami, marami ‘no. Unang-una kasi, sa cyber security muna, ang aming server kasi ay … wala kaming central server. So gusto niya nga na pondohan namin ito kasi naha-hack din eh, ‘di ba iyong sa firearms, na-hack din. So ito ay pag-aaralan.

Pangalawa, ang problema kasi namin, lalo na sa drugs, basta ang pulis ay mag-raid tapos because of technicality, let’s say, three witness rule, ma-dismiss iyan, babalikan iyang mga pulis; ididemanda iyan. So once ikaw ay pulis, mademanda ka, gagastos ka sa sariling pera mo sa abogado, kinakabahan ka pa, suspended ka pa pending investigation, ayaw mo nang ma-assign pa sa drugs, ayaw mo na; at nangyayari iyan.

So iniisip ni Chief na magkaroon talaga ng isang office that will give free legal aid to deserving policemen na kinakailangan. So, we’re going to work on that. Sabi ni Presidente kahapon sa command conference, dapat magkaroon ng ganiyan, tingnan ninyo, pag-aralan ninyo, ES, na magkaroon ng opisina to give free legal aid to our police.

Pagkatapos, bukod dito, napag-usapan din namin iyong mga rescue, kasi usually ang rescue, ang BFP. Pero sabi nila, kung may gulo, kung may mga dapat na i-rescue, you look at your equipment, iyong capacity building dahil kung may mga bagyo, kung may mga ano, kailangan ka namin.

Pangatlo, napag-usapan about downsizing. Kasi ang nangyayari iyong iba nasa office lang, nagkakaroon ng duplicity of work – iyon nga iyong iri-report ni Chief PNP. Ang sabi ng pangulo, tama iyan para imbes na nasa opisina iyong mga pulis, at least nasa baba – importante sa grassroots, nasa baba. So we discussed things about downsizing. In short, talagang tiningnan niya ‘no, talagang tiniyaga niya, inisa-isa niya ang mga problema sa pulis.

But natutuwa ako sa sinabi niya that the police is really continually improving; gumaganda ang performance. In fact, kanina ngang umaga, nag-report din ako. We presented four policemen who were involved in kidnapping of foreigners. Four policemen, the highest is a major. Hinarang nila iyong sasakyan dito sa Taft ng dalawang motorsiklo, and then kasama nila iyong isang nasa likod na van. Iyong apat na foreigners, sinubukan nilang i-abduct; nakatakbo iyong dalawa. But in less than 24 hours, I think it’s just 15 hours, na-solve kaagad ang krimen. At lo and behold, mga pulis ang involved dito at marami pang hinuhuli.

So, kung titingnan mo iyong mga ginagawa ng pulis, maski iyong the other day, iyong nakabaril, less than 24 hours na, nahuli rin kaagad. So iyon ang ginagawa ng pulis ngayon, on the ground; importante, aksiyon kaagad ito. Thank you.

ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL STAR: Secretary, can we get more details about the downsizing?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Yes, okay. Ang ginagawa ngayon ni Chief Marbil is this: Tinitingnan niya iyong mga nagdu-duplicate ng trabaho. For example, may sinasabi siya, isang community relations tapos iyong function ganoon din. Sayang naman, pareho lang ang ginagawa. So pag-isahin na lang pati iyong mga staff doon. So niri-review nila each and every department ano iyong pupuwedeng mabawasan ng tao para mailagay nila sa field, on the ground kasi importante iyon eh, iyong nasa field, iyong mas nakikita ang tao.

So iyon ang inano ni PNP Chief at iyon naman ang gusto rin … masaya ang ating pangulo tungkol dito. Kasi nga importante talaga iyong … sabi nga ng pangulo, iyong neighborhood beat eh. Iyong may nakikitang pulis on the ground ay napakalaking bagay iyon, which brings me to a point na before, sa isang lugar sa atin – I think it’s in Muntinlupa, in Barangay Pototan – naglagay kami ng mga, I think, labinlima o labing… more than ten policemen, doon tumira, doon natulog, doon kumain, umupa ng bahay. Naging barkada niya lahat, lahat ng problema ng barangay ay nakilala niya, kilala niya kung sino ang magulo, kung sino ang gumagamit, kung sinong tsismosa, lasinggero, kung may problema sa asawa – tumulong siya. Anong problema rito, puro birth certificate. You know what? After six months, ang laki ng binaba ng krimen, even drugs – Pulis sa Barangay Program. At iyon ang ginagawa namin sa BIDA program ngayon.

In fact, sa Iloilo, about three days ago, nandoon si SAF Banac, ang daming dinalang—Community Relations Banac, ang daming dinalang mga kapulisyahan, Pulis sa Barangay Program. Thank you.

ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL STAR: Sec., kapag sinabing downsizing, wala naman pong mawawalan ng trabaho?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Wala naman, hindi naman iyon. Parang niri-reassign mo lang. I’m sorry for the term. Iniri-reassign mo lang sa tamang akmang duty niya.

ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL STAR: So, meaning, downsizing iyong mga nasa loob para ilabas sila sa field?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Ilalabas mo, yes. O kaya iyong nagdodoble ng trabaho, sayang naman.

ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL STAR: Pero definitely, there will be bodies that might be scrapped or ma-abolish because of this effort?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Well, ganito lang iyan eh, kung duplicity ‘di ba, kung duplicity naman, dapat lang. And I think the Chief PNP is on the right track. It has to be re-examined; everything should be re-examined.

JEAN MANGALUS/INQUIRER.NET: I want to go back to OSAEC for a bit. Kids are usually at school. So what’s the role—was Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte there in the meeting? What did she say? What’s the DepEd’s role in battling OSAEC?

DOJ ATTY. MAGSAYSAY: So we had a strategy meeting. We conducted two strategy meetings to come up with this action plan. So we invited there si DepEd. Si DepED has this child protection policy po, but they are continuously upgrading it especially now with the passage of the Anti-OSAEC and CSAEM Act.

So, ang pinaka naging ano namin is that they will strengthen their committee within the school that is supposed to be composed of the principal. Mayroon din dapat kasama doon ang isang LEA, ang barangay because as the president was saying, schools are actually one of the ones who are able to see the demeanor of the child kung nag-iba iyong behavior ng child sa school, biglang naging tahimik; usually very active, naging tahimik siya. So dapat even the teachers should be parang capacitated enough to understand or to have telltale signs na something …looks like something is going on at home.

Now, iyong reporting sa school, that also has to be improved and that was one of actually our action items, ano po, it’s for the improvement of the child protection policy which the DepEd is actually doing, undergoing in improving that policy. So we are just waiting for that para we can link those first responders ultimately to the LEAs. Iyon iyong gusto naming gawin eh, iyong mga first responders which consists of the schools and the barangays, we will link them to the LEAs. So iyon iyong tatrabahuhin namin.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. I think we’re done. Thank you so much, Malacañang Press Corps, for spreading the message. And thank you so much, Secretary Abalos, ED Kit and Asec. Clavano.

Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.

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