Bacolod city: This highly-urbanized city has created the Bacolod Support and Action for Families in Emergency (SAFE) Hotline as part of the heightened campaign against the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), a cybercrime where traffickers livestream the sexual abuse of minors for profit.
According to Philippines News Agency, the city government recently partnered with International Justice Mission (IJM)-Philippines for the campaign, which includes the formation of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) comprising at least 40 frontliners and the creation of the Bacolod SAFE Hotline through an executive order.
The SAFE Hotline aims to streamline reporting and response mechanisms for cases involving gender-based violence, children in need of special protection, and other social welfare concerns. In a statement, Mayor Greg Gasataya said the city government will not tolerate online child abuse. "Our frontliners are fully prepared to hold traffickers accountable, rescue and rehabilitate victims, and send a powerful message of justice to both active and potential perpetrators," he said.
Meanwhile, Capt. Liberty Indiape, officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police Office-Women and Children Protection Desk, said they are working with the city government in the campaign against OSAEC. "Together with the MDT, we conduct proactive measures to prevent incidents from happening," she said in an interview.
As part of the partnership, the IJM conducted training on MDT-Basic Internet Crimes Against Children from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3 to equip participants with essential knowledge on internet-based crimes targeting minors, particularly OSAEC. The MDT includes law enforcers, social workers, prosecutors, educators, health officers, information officers, and child protection advocates.
Evelyn Pingul, IJM Philippines' community engagement director, lauded the city's proactive efforts, saying local government units are the first line of defense against the online sexual exploitation of children. "Bacolod's leadership demonstrates how local governments can translate that commitment into real protection for children," she added.
Lawyer Lovelie Faith Endomo-Forcadilla, IJM's special counsel for interventions, commended the city's dedication to child protection in the creation of the Bacolod SAFE Hotline. "The Bacolod LGU has been very supportive in the fight against OSAEC. They have successfully passed an anti-OSAEC ordinance and recently established the SAFE Hotline to provide a local reporting mechanism for these cases," Forcadilla said.
To report OSAEC incidents, the public may contact the Bacolod City SAFE Hotline or the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center at 0966-725-5961 or 0919-777-7377.
