THE COUNCIL for the Welfare of the Children has revealed that male children also experience online exploitation and sexual abuse.

“Males also experience sexual abuse, whether online or offline ‘yan ano and because of cultural concerns… kapag mga batang lalaki dapat hindi ka raw iyakin, masumbungin or something so it might contribute to the under reporting also,” CWC Executive Director Usec. Angelo Tapales said in a radio interview on Friday.

Tapales said that with the help of Republic Act No. 11930 or Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act, there have been 200 convictions.

“Ito po ay high-rate of conviction, considering na bata pa lang po ‘yung batas natin… The Implementing Rules and Regulations, May 2023 lang pero may 200 na po tayo na conviction,” he said.

Meanwhile, the official clarified that the Philippines is not a ‘hotspot’ of online abuse.

“Mali namang tawagin na hotspot o epicenter ang Pilipinas ng online sexual abuse ng mga bata. We can admit that there is still a serious concern pero po ‘yung mga datos po kasi nakikita po natin ngayon… ‘yan po ay nakikita natin kasi po gumagana po ‘yung batas natin,” Tapales said.