Parents warned on preying tourists

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Against Sex Tourism (CAST) has warned the parents to monitor the activities of their children especially during summer because of the reported incidents of sexual abuse perpetrated by foreigners.

The warning was issued by Lawyer Noemi Truya-Abarientos on the occasion of Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Week.

Abarientos was one of the guests during the weekly 888 News Forum held at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

“In a matter of two months, classes will be over and our school children will be free from school activities, many will also be free and available for an opportunity to escort tourists,” Abarientos said.

She reported incidents in public places such as malls and beaches where aging foreigners are seen with very young girls as escorts.

“This reality is not only here in Cebu City but in all other parts of Cebu, whether known tourist destinations or not,” she said.

There were reports of foreign tourists arrested for bringing with them young boys and girls in hotel rooms in the pretext of helping these poor kids.

Abarientos said that this should concern everyone especially that the provinces are opening as tourist destinations.

“By allowing local children to escort tourists, we are exposing them to sexual abuses, parents should be especially concerned,” she said.

She said that the Philippines do not have a system of screening undesirable aliens and the government does not actually know just how many convicted rapists and child abusers are there roaming around because our immigration system does not monitor these kind of tourists.

Abarientos said that compounding the problem are the opportunistic types who do not have actual criminal records in their own country, but nonetheless commit crimes such as child abuse here simply because there is an opportunity.

She proposed that there should be a local law banning these kinds of activities for the protection of children.

“We should know who our visitors are, and should they be undesirable, they should not be allowed in the country,” she said.

Proclamation No. 731 signed in 1996 declared the second week of February of every year as the National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.

The annual observance seeks to help make communities safe haven for children.—(FREEMAN)