MANILA – The Philippine government is stepping up its efforts to combat online child sexual abuse and exploitation (OCSAE) by exploring new strategies and collaborating with various stakeholders.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is working with money services businesses (MSBs) to flag suspicious transactions related to the purchase of child sexual abuse materials (CSAEM). Additionally, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is collaborating with social media platforms to enhance their systems and curb access to harmful content.
The government acknowledges that the threshold amounts in the Anti-Money Laundering Act are insufficient to capture many OSEAC-related transactions, which can be as low as PHP50 per photo. They are therefore exploring ways to address this issue by consulting with remittance and virtual wallet platforms.
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla emphasized the government’s commitment to combating online child sexual abusers and protecting Filipinos in the digital sphere. The National Coordination Center Against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM) is leading efforts to commemorate Safer Internet Day and raise awareness about this issue.