Amid the increasing cases of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) in the province, the Negros Oriental Provincial Council Against Trafficking-Violence Against Women and their Children (PCAT-VAWC) is urging the public to be more vigilant in helping protect children from online sexual abuse.

Assistant Provincial Prosecutor and Vice-Chair of PCAT-VAWC Emmylou Bendanillo said that in 2022, nine OSAEC-related violations and trafficking in persons (TIP) have been filed and pending in court.

The victims came from Dumaguete City and the municipalities of Sibulan and San Jose.

Bendanillo said the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the existing vulnerabilities to TIP, as more families are forcing their children into OSAEC.

“We see one of its alarming direct results, an increase in this societal ill called online sexual abuse and exploitation of children or OSAEC,” Bendanillo said.

OSAEC cases in the Philippines increased by nearly 265 percent during the pandemic.

Based on records of PCAT-VAWC, many victims are girls and boys who are younger than 12 years.

Traffickers exploit children individually and in groups in live internet broadcasts in exchange for compensation wired through a money transfer agency by individuals, most often in another country, she added.

“That is why OSAEC is a continuing threat. The immediate call to action is for all of us — government, business, and civil society to remain vigilant, work together, and build stronger partnerships to combat TIP and protect the vulnerable sector, our children, from all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation,” Bendanillo said. (PIA-7 Negros Oriental)