The Negros Oriental Provincial Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (PCAT-VAWC) is urging the public to be vigilant against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

The call follows the recent arrest of an African-American man and a Filipina in Vallehermoso town for trafficking the latter’s four younger siblings, said lawyer Emmylou Bendanillo, provincial assistant prosecutor.

The four minors, ages nine, 11, 13, and 17, were allegedly trafficked by their older sister for sexual exploitation in exchange for money.

The foreigner reportedly took the victims to Dumaguete City for a shopping trip during his first visit to Vallehermoso, located 154 kilometers from the provincial capital.

Local authorities, alerted to the incident, arrested the foreigner as he was about to board a bus to Dumaguete with the minors.

Bendanillo said the suspects are detained and an OSAEC case has been filed against them at Branch 34 in Guihulngan City.

“It’s really happening. We are receiving reports on OSAEC situations here,” Bendanillo said.

“We are in the stage that after the reporting, what are we going to do after the capture of the perpetrators?”

PCAT-VAWC has implemented training programs to equip key government agencies involved in rescue, investigation and prosecution.

“I believe if we have training, we will be able to effectively provide the necessary skills and knowledge to law enforcement agencies to uncover the crimes, protect children in the community,” Bendanillo said.

The committee has scheduled Specialized Trainings on OSAEC Perspective on Trafficking in Person, and Basic and Exhaustive Access to Training on Trafficking in Person.

Bendanillo said after training two batches of police officers, social workers, and school personnel, an advanced training course on trafficking will follow.

“This is more of a parallel financial investigation as trafficking offenses involve money,” the prosecutor said. (PIA-7 Negros Oriental)