The Philippines Anti-Trafficking of persons act prohibits the production of pornography - with a possible life sentence for those who recruit minors into prostitution.
Authorities in the Philippines and also the authorities in the foreign countries where the paying viewers reside are acting to stop these unlawful practices.
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Sun.Star Cebu newspaper
May 29, 2013.
By Kevin A. Lagunda
Cybersex turns 3 Cordova kids into orphans
Even though her parents are still alive, Ana is an orphan, said a social worker. Her parents are jailed for letting the 13-year-old girl pose naked in front of a computer inside their home in Barangay Ibabao, Cordova so they could earn money from pedophiles.
“She is an only child,” said social worker Edna Regudo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU). She said online pornography is the only source of income of Ana’s family after her mother quit from her job as data encoder for three companies in Mactan Economic Processing Zone.
Her father quit as a fisherman after he got sick three years ago. Among the cases filed against Ana’s parents is for violation of Republic Act 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, which is non-bailable.
Since they are not allowed to post bail, Mila and Nilo (real names withheld) will stay behind bars until the court resolves their cases.
RA 9208 punishes any person who “recruits, transports, transfers, harbors, provides or receives a person by any means, including those done under the pretext of domestic or overseas employment or training or apprenticeship, for the purpose of prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage.”
Recruiting a minor to sell her for prostitution carries a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to P5 million.
Under the Family Code of the Philippines, parents and other persons exercising parental authority “shall be civilly liable for the injuries and damages caused by the acts or omissions” of their children living with them.
“The family, being the foundation of the nation, is a basic social institution which public policy cherishes and protects,” the law reads.
Parents’ rights and duties
Article 220 of the Philippine Family Code enumerates the following parents’ rights and duties:
-To keep them in their company, to support, educate and instruct them by right precept and good example, and to provide for their upbringing in keeping with their means;
-To give them love and affection, advice and counsel, companionship and understanding;
-To provide them with moral and spiritual guidance, inculcate in them honesty, integrity, self-discipline, self-reliance, industry and thrift, stimulate their interest in civic affairs, and inspire in them compliance with the duties of citizenship;
-To furnish them with good and wholesome educational materials, supervise their activities, recreation and association with others, protect them from bad company, and prevent them from acquiring habits detrimental to their health, studies and morals;
-To represent them in all matters affecting their interests;
-To demand from them respect and obedience;
-To impose discipline on them as may be required under the circumstances; and
-To perform such other duties as are imposed by law upon parents and guardians.
“The courts may appoint a guardian of the child’s property or a guardian ad litem when the best interests of the child so requires,” says the law.
Regudo said they will find relatives who can take care of Ana and her cousin. She said they will make sure the minors will not be abused again and can go back to school.
Ana is an incoming third year high school student.
“Ingnon lang siya para sa iyang kaayohan ug makakwarta (She was just told by her parents their business is for her own good),” said Regudo.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2013/05/29/cybersex-turns-3-cordova-kids-orphans-284717
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