BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
THE WIDE extent of child sexual abuse is a shocking and embarrassing reality that no nation wants to admit to. This is why it is largely ignored and family reluctance to report child rape by a family member or neighbor allows more abuse and prevents children from getting justice. Laws are circumvented by duty-bearers. Even police fail to pursue investigations and some are allegedly in cahoots with the suspects and create a technicality to have a case dismissed, defeating the purpose of the courts. Victims of rape and trafficking are left unprotected by social services and sent home without help or therapy in a protective home because there is almost none provided by government services.
There are thousands of clinics and hospitals in the Philippines yet almost no therapeutic homes to protect victims of abuse from abusers, traffickers, or members of their own abusive families. The children have nowhere to go for help. One in every three girls are sexually abused and one in every six boys are victims of sexual abuse worldwide. In the Philippines, it is even higher.
The shame and embarrassment on the nation and government is so huge they are in denial. They claim it is no big problem and so no need for therapeutic homes. A research study by UNICEF and Interpol says as many as two million Filipino children are victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation. Recently two pedophiles, a British and a Swiss, were identified as customers and perpetrators of horrific online sexual abuse of Filipino children, abused by their parents for money, and were reported to Philippine police but no legal action or investigation has been taken against the foreign suspects by the UK or Swiss police that we know of.
Victims of child human trafficking can be as high as 60,000 a year as estimated by Unicef. It makes the amendments to the anti-trafficking-in-persons law and the anti-online sexual abuse and exploitation bill all the more urgent to be signed into law by the president. These updated laws are in response to technological advances and, if enforced, are vital to protect children. The recent passing of the law raising the age of sexual consent is a huge benefit for child victims. Sixteen is the age of consent. So, sexual intercourse with a Filipino child below 16 is statutory rape.
Anti-trafficking laws are sometimes circumvented by the deliberate creation of legal technicalities. However, judges wisely balance such dirty tricks against the clear, unequivocal testimony of the child victims who testify how they were abused and trafficked as young teenagers by criminal pimps and human traffickers. Such evidence is the basis of all true judgment and justice is being done despite the reluctance by some government agencies to pursue it and enforce the laws.
It is not all doom and gloom. Dedicated prosecutors and committed judges and good police are an inspiration to all by implementing the law and giving justice to child victims. These dedicated officials inspire the public to have trust in the justice system. Without that, civilized society will descend into chaos.
Last March 9, 2022, Prosecution Attorney Sunshine Palomar in Olongapo City sent John for trial in court for two counts of statutory rape. He sexually abused his younger sister Julia (not her real name), now 18 years old, whom he abused since she was only eight years. After years of living in fear, Julia got the courage to ask for help from a friend and she contacted the local social worker who rescued Julia and brought her to the Preda home for protective custody and therapy. Julia became self-confident and empowered and she filed her complaint against John. He is now arrested and detained and will stand trial. (To be continued)/PN
