By CESAR JOLITO III
An international anti-trafficking group has hailed the Bacolod City government for its intensified efforts to combat the Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) — a growing cybercrime that has victimized an alarming number of Filipino minors.
The International Justice Mission (IJM), a global human rights organization, praised the city’s proactive stance in addressing OSAEC through strengthened inter-agency coordination, training and the launch of the Bacolod Support and Action for Families in Emergency (SAFE) Hotline.
Mayor Greg Gasataya underscored the city’s unwavering stand against online exploitation, saying the local government is fully committed to protecting children and prosecuting offenders.
“We will never tolerate online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in our city,” Gasataya said.
“Our frontliners are prepared to hold traffickers accountable, rescue and rehabilitate victims, and send a strong message that justice will prevail. I urge everyone to stay vigilant and report any suspected case immediately,” he added.
A multidisciplinary team composed of more than 40 frontliners — including police officers, social workers, prosecutors, teachers, and health officers — has been formed to respond to OSAEC cases in Bacolod.
The initiative follows the recent Basic Internet Crimes Against Children training to enhance the capacity of local responders to handle internet-based child exploitation cases.
IJM’s Special Counsel for Interventions, Atty. Lovelie Faith Endomo-Forcadilla commended Bacolod for institutionalizing anti-OSAEC measures, particularly through its SAFE Hotline.
The hotline enables faster reporting and coordination in cases of gender-based violence, child protection and other social welfare concerns.
“Bacolod has been very supportive in the fight against OSAEC,” Forcadilla said.
“They’ve passed an anti-OSAEC ordinance and launched the SAFE Hotline to make reporting more accessible to citizens,” she added.
IJM Philippines Community Engagement Director Evelyn Pingul also lauded Bacolod’s leadership, describing it as a model for other cities.
“Local governments are the first line of defense against online sexual exploitation of children,” Pingul said.
“Bacolod’s commitment sets an inspiring example. The city’s initiatives reflect the same dedication that earned the Philippines a Tier 1 ranking in the 2025 US Trafficking in Persons Report,” she added.
OSAEC remains one of the most insidious forms of child trafficking, often committed by family members or trusted individuals within the home.
Victims are coerced into producing sexual exploitation materials or performing live-streamed abuse for foreign clients.
A 2022 study by IJM and the University of Nottingham Rights Lab estimates that nearly half a million Filipino children — around one in every 100 — have been trafficked to create sexual exploitation materials.
Since 2011, IJM has been working closely with Philippine law enforcement, prosecutors and social service agencies to rescue victims and prosecute perpetrators.
However, challenges persist, particularly at the local level, where community vigilance remains vital.
Forcadilla emphasized that the fight against OSAEC requires a united front.
“The vigilance of the community will go a long way. With the SAFE Hotline, Bacolod now has a secure and responsive system to help citizens report cases and protect our children,” Forcadilla said./CJ, WDJ