‘Couple’s son in need of intensive therapy’

Sustained exposure to pornography would lead to serious psychological disorders in minors, a child psychologist warned during a court hearing on a cyber-pornography case yesterday.

“Pornographic images as well as sexual arousal get blocked in the brain. (They are) difficult to erase. If there is no intervention, this could lead to other serious problems,” said Dr. Rosemarie Donato, resident psychologist of the Women and Children’s Crisis Center of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

She cited the 15-year-old son of a couple arrested for exploiting their children through cyberpornography in barangay Ibabao, Cordvoa town.

Dr. Donato said the boy “needs subsequent therapies” as a result of witnessing his siblings being told to pose nude in front of web cameras by his parents.

Dr. Donato was presented by the prosecution as its fourth witness in the case against a couple accused of exploiting their children in a cyberpornography racket in barangay Ibabao, Cordova town, Cebu.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale also attended yesterday’s hearing in her capacity as co-chairperson of the Provincial Women Commission.

Magpale was asked by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to view the video footage of the the  children who were asked to perform lewd activities by their parents in Cordova.

The governor also  cited Special Agent Christopher Harvey of the US Department of Homeland Security for coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in its campaign against child trafficking.

During the hearing, Donato relayed to the court accounts of the couple’s eldest child, a 15-year-old boy. She said the boy was suffering from “traumatic stress” even before his parents’ arrest.

“Pornography is a form of non-contact sexual abuse,” said Donato, who was presented in court by Cebu Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Lolita Lomanta.

She said cyberpornography victims experience “feelings of guilt, sadness, hopelessness, and powerlessness.” The psychologist said young people exposed to pornography “can model or imitate” the sexual activities he or she sees.

As a result, she said these minors may “develop a harmful attitude towards sex.” “Pornogaphy will lead to promiscuity,” Dr. Donato said.

Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 recognizes the right to privacy of both the trafficked person and the accused.

The couple who were arrested at their home stand accused of “qualified trafficking,” a non-bailable offense.

They also face charges of child abuse and child pornography.  The penalties upon conviction is life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to P5 million
The next hearing is scheduled on Nov. 8 before Judge Toribio Quiwag of the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in  Lapu-Lapu City.