SENATOR Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. filed a measure that will establish an office that will safeguard the welfare of children which will be known as TanodBata.

Revilla said the office will be an independent body which will exclusively pursue and ensure the successful prosecution of perpetrators of child abuse.

Under Senate Bill 1658, the Office of TanodBata will be created under the wing of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“The Tanodbata is imbued with powers to effectively prosecute and even defend a child involved in a case,” Revilla said in his explanatory note.

The measure was first filed by Senator Juan Flavier in 2004.

Revilla said that children remain victims of exploitation despite various laws that protect them.