AN advocate for children’s welfare and protection, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated the importance of developing stronger children protection programs, underscoring that it is the government’s job to make certain that Filipino children, considered as one of the most vulnerable sectors who cannot defend themselves, are protected at all times.

“Unahin natin ang mga mahihirap, mga hopeless at helpless, mga walang laban tulad ng mga kabataan. Proteksyunan natin ang kanilang kapakanan,” Go appealed.

In a recent courtesy call, the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children Mama Fatima Singhateh cited that the Philippines remains to be a primary source of child trafficking, sale, sexual abuse, and forced marriage and labor, among others.

Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla then expressed his concern over the alarming increase in Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), adding that the country is leading in child exploitation cases.

Meanwhile, during an ambush interview after the relief activity he personally spearheaded in Bocaue, Bulacan on Monday, December 12, Go likewise echoed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s appeal to have stronger government interventions against child exploitation and violence.

“Nakakabahala at nakakalungkot po kung mga kabataan pa po ang nagiging biktima dito. It is the State’s duty, like the parent of the nation, to protect its citizen, especially those who are not able to protect themselves, such as children who are vulnerable po and helpless,” stressed Go.

For his part, Go has refiled a measure to amend Republic Act No. 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act” in a bid to enhance the country’s protective measures for children.

Senate Bill No. 1188 seeks to amend Section 5 (b) of the Anti-Child Abuse Law regarding the penalty for persons engaging in lascivious conduct or sexual activity with minors under 12 years of age.

Under the present law, lascivious acts against a minor below 12 years old are penalized with reclusion temporal in its medium period while the same act committed against a child above 12 years but below 18 years of age is penalized with reclusion temporal in its medium period to reclusion perpetua.

On the other hand, the proposed amendment will increase the penalty to reclusion temporal in its medium period to reclusion perpetua for any individual found violating the law under the said provision.

“I am willing to support such measure basta maproteksyunan ang ating mga kabataan. Ayaw nating maabuso ang mga kabataan, mga kabataan ang kinabukasan ng ating bayan. Dapat natin silang proteksyunan,” Go reiterated.

Previously, the senator commended the passage of RA 11648, which raises the age for determining statutory rape from “below 12 years old” to “below 16 years old”, as an important step in the fight against sexual violence and exploitation.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte signed the measure into law on March 4, 2022.

The amendment to the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 is in keeping with the recommendation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to determine a more appropriate age for sexual consent.

“Mariin po nating tinututulan ang pang-aabuso sa ating mga kabataan. Kaya naman po isinusulong ko ang panukalang magsisiguro na protektado ang ating mga kabataan laban sa mga ganitong pang-aabuso,” Go said in his previous statements.

“Ang mga kabataan po ang pag-asa ng ating bayan. Gawin po natin ang lahat upang proteksyunan sila laban sa mga taong may masamang intensyon sa kanila,” he continued.