Campaign against sexual exploitation launched

Local

AS TECHNOLOGY gives perpetrators new ways to reach potential victims, Cebu stakeholders are pushing for stronger community action to stop online sexual exploitation before it happens.

Government officials, law enforcement representatives, lawyers, social workers, educators and community advocates launched the CyberShield Against Sexual Exploitation (Case) on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the Radisson Blu Cebu Hotel.

Lead convener Winley Sanchez Dela Fuente brought together Cebu 3rd District Rep. Karen Hope Garcia and her husband, former lawmaker Pablo John Garcia, former Mandaue City Treasurer and social media personality Atty. Regal Oliva, professor and political strategist Maria Lourdes Tiquia, Cebu City Councilor Paul Labra, and representatives from various government agencies and sectors.

The initiative seeks to strengthen cooperation among families, communities, institutions and law enforcement agencies to prevent online sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly involving women and children.

Lt. Gen. Bernard M. Banac said the Philippine National Police (PNP) continues to coordinate with concerned agencies on dealing the crime.

“The PNP, together with the whole community, strongly believes that children deserve to grow up free from exploitation,” Banac said.

Banac said the PNP would continue pursuing individuals who use technology to victimize children.

He also described the CASE movement as an opportunity to strengthen community support for police operations.

Agent Maria Contessa Lastimoso, representing NBI 7 Atty. Antonio M. Pagatpat, stressed the importance of coordination among institutions in addressing online sexual abuse and exploitation.

NBI 7's school information drive, launched on June 30, 2026, has reached more than 500 learners from Grades 1 to 8 in seven educational institutions.

Lastimoso said the campaign discusses online safety, cybersecurity and netiquette to help children recognize digital risks, including online grooming.

She explained that perpetrators may establish relationships with children online, gain their trust, and eventually manipulate or control them.

“We can only counter cyber grooming or online grooming through education,” Lastimoso said.

Col. Jay D. Guillermo of the PNP Cyber Crime Group said the sheer volume of websites, applications, games and online chat groups makes it difficult for law enforcement to monitor every potential avenue for online exploitation.

He urged parents and other family members to understand the technology children use and maintain communication with them about their online activities.

Guillermo said children now encounter digital technology at increasingly young ages, making it difficult for parents to know what conversations or interactions take place inside their devices.

Department of Social Welfare and Development-Central Visayas (DSWD-7) representative Ligaya Dael said survivors of online sexual abuse and exploitation can experience complex trauma that requires coordinated and sustained support.

“The recovery demands major steps and a concerted unified effort from families, communities, and institutions,” Dael said.

Dael said DSWD-7 provides continuing interventions for survivors under its care while local government units assist their families through local social welfare and development officers.

She said families remain a survivor's strongest support system but warned that stigma and harsh judgment can undermine recovery.

Assistant Regional Prosecutor Irish Claire M. Cantillas-Salva of the Office of the Regional Prosecutor said the response to online sexual exploitation should extend beyond the filing and prosecution of criminal cases.

“The law can punish an offender and put him behind bars, it can secure a conviction, but it cannot erase the trauma that these victims and survivors feel,” Cantillas-Salva said.

She said survivors also need counseling, support for school or work reintegration, and empowerment programs to help rebuild their sense of safety and security.

Addtionally, Oliva called for an inclusive response that considers the different vulnerabilities of victims, including LGBTQ+ individuals.

“Let us remember that human dignity has no gender,” Oliva said.

Oliva said perpetrators may exploit a person's sexual orientation or gender identity by threatening to expose intimate information, particularly when victims fear rejection, discrimination or humiliation.

She said authorities and institutions should assess cases based on consent, coercion, threats and exploitation rather than stereotypes about victims.

Meanwhile, Congresswoman Garcia called for laws and institutions to keep pace with the changing methods used by perpetrators online.

Garcia said existing data privacy protections provide only part of the necessary response and called for additional measures to address grooming, encrypted platforms, livestreaming and AI-generated exploitative material.

She also called for sustained funding for anti-cybercrime units and said platforms and perpetrators should bear greater responsibility for digital safety instead of placing the burden mainly on children and parents.

The panel also featured Atty. Laarni C. Maglasang, public relations officer of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu; Rep. Jeffrey C. Badilles; and Tiquia, who discussed youth digital responsibility, legal protections and sustained community action against online sexual exploitation.

The launch concluded with the signing of the Task Force CASE commitment and the administration of the CASE Advocacy Oath.

Under the commitment, advocates pledged to promote awareness of online sexual exploitation and responsible digital behavior, protect individuals and communities, uphold dignity and justice, support survivors, encourage proper reporting and intervention, and strengthen collective action.

The advocates also pledged to respect the dignity, rights, privacy and welfare of vulnerable individuals and support survivors without discrimination or victim-blaming.(MyTVCebu)