Children play at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila on October 19, 2021. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA — Eighty percent of Filipino children with access to the internet are prone to online sexual abuse or exploitation, according to Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) executive director Angelo Tapales on Tuesday.

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CWC is an office under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Tapales cited data from government agencies as well as from the Unicef.

"Base po sa datos ng Philippine Statistics Authority, noong 2020 po kasi ang population po natin nasa mga 109 milliion, dito sa 109 million po na yan 36.5 percent ang mga bata so mga nasa 39 million po yung bata," Tapales said.

"Ang sabi naman po ng Unicef, diyan sa mga bata na Pilipino, 71 percent po diyan ay nasa internet na o gumagamit ng internet at diyan sa 71 percent naman po na nasa internet, 80 percent po diyan ang prone to online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC)," he added.

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Tapales warned: "Milyong Milyong bata po yan na nasa panganib maabuso o ma-exploit ng mga sexual predators, mga pedophiles na nag-aantay po sa kanila sa  cyberspace."

Citing data from the Department of Justice, Tapales said 84 percent of OSAEC victims are female children or girls but he also cited a 2015 data from the Unicef which showed boys are equally prone to abuse but don't speak up because of cultural norms on machismo.

Citing other data from De La Salle University, the Unicef, and other government agencies, Tapales attributed this prevalence of OSAEC to poverty, English literacy, access to technology, and financial transaction facilities. 

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"At para sa Council for the Welfare of Children po, ang pinakadahilan kung bakit tumataas talaga yung OSAEC eh yung maling mentality ng ilang mga nakatatanda na 'no harm, no foul' daw kasi no touch naman ang nangyayari so ibig sabihin pag no touch no harm daw. Yan po ay mali," Tapales said, 

"Gusto po natin mag-create ng awareness na hindi lomo pinicturan po ang bata vinideohan ang bata at binenta yan sa mga masasamang tao ay walang krimen na nangyari... Yan po ay maaaring magdulot ng lifetime scarring ng bata, may psychological or psychosocial effect sa mga bata po yan," Tapales added.

Tapales said government agencies should follow the lead of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in championing the welfare of children and making it a priority.

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