SENATOR Leila de Lima on Monday again called on the Senate to review the implementation of laws that seek to protect children as she expressed alarm over incidents of cybersex trafficking involving Filipino youth.

“Dahil sa lumulubha pang kahirapan na dala ng pandemya, maraming pamilyang Filipino ang nahuhulog sa patibong ng pag-abuso sa internet para kumita. Sa kasawiang palad, ang mga inosenteng bata ang nabibiktima ng sekswal na pang-aabusong ito ng sarili pa nilang mga kapamilya, lalo pa’t nasa bahay lang ang mga kabataan at mas maraming oras ang mga mapagsamantala sa panahong ito ng krisis,” De Lima said.

The senator urged her colleagues to act with dispatch on Senate Resolution No. 201 urging Congress to review the status of implementation of laws on protecting children from abuses.

Reports said that 14 minors were rescued when the police raided a cybersex den in Camarines Sur on May 7.

PLt. Angelo Babagay, team leader of the Camarines Sur Cyber Crime Response Team, confirmed that the youth recruited in the online child pornography operation by four residents of Barangay San Antonio were aged 2 to 17 years old.

Babagay said they seized pornographic materials and electronic gadgets, as well as money transfer receipts which showed that the suspects earn around P5,000 per transaction.

De Lima said that a Senate investigation is necessary because it could lead to possible legislation imposing stiffer penalty and heftier fines against sexual predators.

“I am relieved to know that the PNP-Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit-Bicol managed to rescue these innocent minors, but our fight against cyber child sex abuse should not end there,” she said.

“The pervasive problem of child abuse and sex trafficking in the Philippines calls urgently for more vigilant, tougher and higher penalties to eradicate this growing industry of child exploitation through cyber pornography in the country and consequently ensure that offenders are held accountable, and due justice is delivered to children,” the senator added.