Filipino children 'sexually abused all over again' by foreigners

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino children victimized in various cyber-pornography dens across the country are being "abused all over again" whenever foreigners pay to view videos showing them engaging in sexual acts.

Lawyer Ronald Aguto, chief of the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division, said that the form of abuse caused by child pornographers, which often include the children's parents, is horrifying.

"Everytine na may nagve-view n'on, the child is being abused all over again. So paulit-ulit na naabuso hanggang sa tumanda na [sila] at malaki ang pinsala na nagagawa nito sa psychology ng mga bata," Aguto said in an interview with GMA News' "Saksi" aired Tuesday night.

He pointed out that the Philippines is among the top ten sources and producers of child pornography for sexual predators mostly in Europe and the United States. The astounding number of cases of online sexual abuse in the Philippines brought the International Police or INTERPOL to coordinate with Philippine authorities to crack down on sex dens.

Five Greek men were recently arrested in the act of viewing a live streaming of Filipino children from six months to nine years old being raped. Two of those nabbed were policemen. The men paid between $100 and $2,500 for the videos.

The Filipino Times reported that INTERPOL has taken over the investigation in the trade of live feed of child pornography sold over the Internet. Local authorities, however, are still trying to locate the den as of posting time.

Aguto said that live video services are more serious compared to recorded pornography as children are being abused on the spot.

"Iyan ang danger if it's a live feed. if you want to do this kind of sexual act. Magbibigay sila ng sexual task. Guma-grabe yung binibigay nilang pangaabuso sa mga menor de edad na kababayan natin," the agent said.

He said that convicted child pornographers may face life imprisonment under the Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act and Republic Act 7610 or the Child Protection Act. - Camille Diola