Cordova exec reports no new case of cybersex

CEBU, Philippines - Cordova town Councilor Angeles Gairanod has clarified that the recent international news item tagging their municipality on cybersex crime story is an "old" case.

Gairanod yesterday told reporters that local government officials are working hand in hand with government agencies in making sure that human trafficking through the internet, noted in the area for the past years, will be eradicated.

"Medyo ni arang-arang na man ang sitwasyon sa Cordova. Ang katong sa Yahoo, dugay na man to nga file," Gairanod said.

She was referring to Agence France-Presse story on cyber pornography involving children in Cordova which was accordingly continuing despite multiple raids and rescue operations with local, national and international authorities joining forces.

The article revealed interviews with named and unnamed residents and social workers who confirmed that the cybersex dens in barangay Ibabao "remain operational."

Gairanod referred to the municipal project called Save A Child program as one of the preventive solutions adopted by the administration of Mayor Adelino Sitoy.

"We visit not just the three barangays identified with cybersex but all the 13 barangays of the municipality of Cordova to conduct information dissemination. This way, we prevent other barangays from getting involved with the illegal and immoral activity," the councilor said.

She further denied the AFP report alleging that some barangay officials are protecting the cybersex dens operators keeping the industry running despite strong government and private campaign against it.

"In fairness to the barangay officials, they are very active in our crusade against cyber pornography. We have been emphasizing that the raids were in coordination with the local officials. So, kami ang nagpadakop ani nila. Mao bitaw makaingon ko nga isuga sad aning mga tawhana kay magpadayon gihapon," Gairanod said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), for their part, reminded the parents and the teachers of their vital roles in molding or breaking the future of the children.

"This is not only a case of concern for DSWD or Cordova. Let us help prevent cyber pornography. Di nato paabuton nga ang atong kaugalingong pamilya ang mabiktima," social worker Edna Regudo of the Crisis Intervention Unit of DSWD 7 said.

Regudo shared that the role and challenge of their agency in handling the trafficked children is correcting the values earlier taught by their parents and strengthen moral values.

The Department of Education, as the primary agency in charge in molding the Filipino children through education, stressed they are in coordination with other agencies like DSWD in making sure that the education of the victims become uninterrupted through alternative programs that the agency offers.

An anti-poverty program called Adopt-A-Student has also been done by DepEd, according to Cebu Division coordinator Glenna Plarisan.— (FREEMAN)