HOUSE Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene Brosas has called for enhanced financial monitoring to combat online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC), following the conviction of a French animator for ordering the livestreamed rape of Filipino children.

“The conviction of Bouhalem Bouchiba highlights the urgent need to strengthen our financial monitoring systems against OSEC. It’s unacceptable that this predator facilitated these crimes for nearly a decade through money transfers,” Brosas stated.

She emphasized that the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) should focus its resources on tracking suspicious financial transactions linked to OSEC rather than targeting legitimate activist organizations.

Recently, the AMLC froze the accounts of the multi-awarded NGO Leyte Center for Development Inc. after accusations of links to communist insurgency.

“AMLC is targeting progressive organizations instead of identifying money trails connected to OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) syndicates exploiting our children,” Brosas said. “The government must prioritize the safety and welfare of children, as neglect has allowed OSAEC cases to flourish.”

“We demand justice for all Filipino children victimized by foreign predators who exploit poverty in our country. We must strengthen our laws against OSEC and ensure proper implementation of Republic Act 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Law,” she stressed.