Manila – With most of the sex trafficking activities happening online, an official of the Department of Justice said lawmakers should consider relaxing provisions of the Anti-Wiretapping Law.
Justice undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar said investigators probing prostitution dens and human trafficking activities should be allowed to monitor private conversations of suspects.
“Most of the recruitment happens online, through social media or through chat apps which we have no access to,” Aglipay-Villar added.
She said operatives need to secure a court order before they can be exempted from the Anti-Wiretapping Law, which is meant to protect the rights of private citizens.
Meanwhile, Senate committee chair Risa Hontiveros said they will consider Aglipay-Villar’s suggestion alongside other calls to regulate the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, an industry being blamed for the alleged proliferation of Chinese prostitutes and clients in the country.
“The committee will act on that recommendation based both sa human rights, civil rights and effective law enforcement para sa protection ng mga babae,” Hontiveros added.
“‘Yung mga batas natin, kailangan mag-evolve to address the changing nature of the crimes of trafficking and prostitution,” she said.
The committee earlier found out that Chinese-run prostitution dens have been pimping Filipina teens and foreign sex workers through chat apps.
Sex traffickers, who cater primarily to Chinese nationals, have been using food-related codes to evade censorship in China, according to the investigation.(With ABS-CBN News/PN)
