CEBU CITY -- A Cebu lawmaker wants Congress to pay attention to porn -- the kind produced with children in some homes in Cordova and other towns in the country.
Representative Gabriel Luis "Luigi" Quisumbing (Cebu, sixth district) filed House Resolution 1488, asking the House committee on the welfare of children to investigate, in aid of legislation, cybersex dens.
In the resolution he filed last Thursday, Quisumbing cited recent operations by law enforcement agencies and the Cebu Provincial Women's Commission (PWC) in two barangays in Cordova town, which led to the rescue of children allegedly exploited in these dens.
He pointed out these crimes violate Republic Acts 7610, or Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, and 9775, or the Anti-Child Pornography Act.
"There are alarming accounts of the existence of cybersex dens in Cordova where minors were made to pose naked in front of a webcam, in clear violation of the laws against child pornography, child abuse and human trafficking," Quisumbing said.
"Such act violates the rights of children, destroys their innocence and fosters immoral values in the youth," he added.
Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy, in an interview Saturday, said he is glad Quisumbing filed the resolution.
Sitoy said that should the resolution gain support from Congress, he would propose to subpoena those "conduits of money" to operators of cybersex dens.
Last June, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), in coordination with PWC and the United States Department of Homeland Security, raided a house in Barangay Ibabao, Cordova town. They arrested a couple who used their children in cybersex operations.
The couple was eventually charged with violating the special law against child pornography, child abuse and qualified human trafficking, and all their children were taken from them.
Earlier this month, three minors were rescued from another cybersex den in Barangay Cogon, in the same town. Three women were arrested in the operation.
As this developed, three countries have signified their interest and cooperation in helping Philippine authorities go after cybersex cases in court, said Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.
They also want to trace who among their citizens pay for cybersex shows performed in the Philippines.
Australia wants to put up a Manila-based center that will monitor cybersex crimes and serve as a training center for the police, NBI and prosecutors in handling such crimes, said Magpale.
Australian Police Federal Agent Michael Kilfoyle informed her Friday about the project.
"Governor Gwen (Garcia) asked me to tell Kilfoyle that Capitol will provide a facility for them here in Cebu," Magpale said.
Representatives from the United States and Sweden have also expressed interest in helping the Philippines crack down on cybersex.
"We asked for forensic experts" who can closely examine the evidence, said Magpale. She said the experts are also studying the possibility of sharing notes on evidence gathered abroad.
Four Swedish officers, including two lawyers, recently asked for the PWC's permission to speak with victims of an alleged Swedish pedophile in Dalaguete town.
He was allegedly previously convicted in Sweden of a similar offense.
Although Sweden has no mutual legal assistance treaty with the Philippines, Magpale said the Swedish officials expressed their willingness to support the case filed against their national here in Cebu.
Philippine National Police-Central Visayas Director Ager Ontog Jr. earlier admitted that of the region's 7,000 police operatives, only 30 are properly trained against cybercrimes.
