‘Poverty eradication key to fighting social problems’

MANILA, Philippines – Eradicating poverty is one of the long-term keys to fighting cybersex and prostitution, especially of minors, in the country, United Nationalist Alliance vice presidential bet Sen. Gregorio Honasan II said yesterday.

“I believe that poverty is a major reason why our youths fall victims to cybersex or prostitution,” Honasan said.

He issued the statement following a report by an international newspaper that minor girls in Iligan City in Mindanao were made to engage in cybersex activities and online prostitution.

It added that the girls who were either lured or forced into cybersex activities came from poor backgrounds, with some parents bringing their children into the cybersex dens.

The article noted that some foreign pedophiles even traveled to the country to abuse the children on camera.

Honasan said that the national government should devote more resources to the countryside.