DOJ: PH now in ‘state of emergency’ when it comes to child sexual abuse

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla Senate PRIB file photo / Bibo Nueva Espaٌña

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is already in a “state of emergency” when it comes to child sexual abuse, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday.

“Dapat dito, iba talaga ang ating trato dito. Nasa emergency, state of emergency na tayo when it comes to child sexual abuse,” Remulla told reporters.

(This should be treated differently [because] we are already in a state of emergency regarding child sexual abuse.)

On Friday, Remulla met with representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Child Protection Network Foundation and discussed measures to address the problem of incestuous rape.

“Ang gusto natin mangyari dito mabawasan o kundi matigil na itong pang-aabuso sa ating mga kabataan lalung lalo na ang incestuous rape,” Remulla said.

(What we want to happen is reduce, if not stop, the abuses of children, particularly incestuous rape.)

According to Bernadette Madrid of the Child Protection Network Foundation, based on their survey, “one out of 20 Filipino children has experienced sexual violence and the majority of the perpetrators are family members.”

She said the Philippines had been “notorious” worldwide as being the hub of live streaming of sexual abuse.

Remulla stressed on the need for a concerted effort against it because “this is really getting to the soul of every Filipino.”

Earlier, Remulla also called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to devise measures to curb the increasing cases of incestuous rape.

“I am asking the CIDG [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group], I hope we can have a program to address this,” Remulla said during the 70th Founding Anniversary of the CIDG.

Remulla said some victims under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) are victims of incestuous rape or sexual activities involving relatives.

“Sapagkat sila po ang breadwinner, ine-enable ng mga asawa ang mga tatay na salarin kapag nagrereklamo ang bata,” Remulla said.

(Since the suspect is the family’s breadwinner, even if the child complains, the mother stays silent about it.)

“These reflect on our society. We are becoming the capital of cyberporn or children’s pornography,” he said.

Between July 2022 and January 7, 2023, PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said rape is among the three most prevalent crimes.

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