ILOILO City – Online sexual exploitation of children is no longer just a cybercrime issue but a worsening public health emergency, a pediatrician warned as Iloilo joins the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Speaking at the launch of the advocacy campaign organized by Zonta Club Metro Iloilo, Dr. Teresa M. Hallegado — pediatrician and child-protection advocate — said the surge in Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) is inflicting lifelong physical, emotional, and developmental scars on victims, many of whom are too young to understand the violence committed against them.
“The impact on a child of OSAEC is really deep. The brain processes online sexual abuse the same way it processes any physical trauma,” Hallegado said. “It encompasses physical, emotional, behavioral, and even developmental effects.”
She said children subjected to OSAEC often suffer psychosomatic symptoms such as persistent headaches or abdominal pain.
“Some children who already achieved toilet training begin to regress,” she noted. “There is a regression of toileting or even feeding habits because of stress. Trauma manifests in many ways.”
Emotional distress is equally severe. Victims may become fearful, withdrawn, or depressed.
“That’s why many of them show signs of depression,” Hallegado said. “Some children become hypervigilant — always alert, always scanning their surroundings. They become uncomfortable around adults because their abusers are often adults.”
The trauma also sets back developmental milestones. Stress and prolonged fear can delay language, cognitive growth, and even weaken a child’s immune system.
“Their immune system can also be affected. Because of stress, they get sick more often,” she added.
Children who experience both online and offline sexual abuse face even graver risks, including STIs, chronic anxiety, and lasting psychological harm.
“Their cognitive development can suffer. Their school performance drops due to stress, sleeplessness, and nightmares,” Hallegado said. “Sleeping disorders — insomnia or recurrent nightmares — are very common.”
She added that older victims may turn to dangerous coping methods.
“Teenagers who experience trauma sometimes turn to risky behaviors. They may engage in substance abuse. This is one of the age-specific impacts,” she said.
Hallegado emphasized that OSAEC’s consequences extend far beyond the virtual world.
“Online sexual abuse is not just a digital problem — it is a real, harmful, and lasting trauma,” she stressed. “We need families, schools, and communities to be vigilant. Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.”
The Zonta Club Metro Iloilo is participating in the 16-day observance from November 25 to December 10, calling for stronger protection mechanisms, survivor-focused support systems, and urgent reforms to stop violence against women and children./PN
