In September, police arrested a woman in one of the city’s barangays who was wanted for alleged online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child abuse offenses, according to a Facebook post by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the Davao Region.
Jeanette Ampog, executive director of Talikala Inc., a nongovernment organization helping abused women and children, said the group has documented four new cases in Davao City, one in Tagum City, and two in Panabo City—bringing Davao del Norte’s total to 13 cases. While the figures may not reflect the full scale of the issue due to underreporting, “This is a pressing problem that needs to be addressed,” Ampog said.
The issue was among the key topics discussed during a media training on child-sensitive and gender-sensitive news reporting held in Tagum City last October.
Talikala, together with the Save the Children movement, launched the Barog Bata awareness campaign in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when movement restrictions kept children at home and left them more vulnerable to online abuse. Ampog noted that what makes the crime most insidious is that the perpetrators are often relatives and close family friends. She added that her group has even monitored a social media group chat named “Walkers.”
Journalists carry a great responsibility when covering OSAEC.
This sensitive issue should always center on protecting the child and preventing further harm. Besides RA 11930, other laws protect children, such as RA 7610 and RA 9775. The core ethical rule for reporters, and for influencers on social media, is to protect the child’s identity completely. That means leaving out names, photos, school, address, barangay, family details, and anything that could identify the child when combined. In small communities, a few details are enough. Blurred faces and altered voices are often still risky.
Do not treat consent from a parent, guardian, or even a case worker as sufficient. Always apply the “best interests of the child” test. Parents or relatives may be involved in the abuse, which makes their consent conflicted. Do no further harm. Avoid interviewing child survivors unless it is truly necessary. If you must, use a trauma-informed approach with a social worker or trusted guardian present, never anyone suspected of involvement. Let the child stop at any time. Adult survivors, NGOs, the DSWD, and prosecutors are often better sources.
Following these ethical considerations will not only spare the child further trauma but also provide long-term safety for survivors of abuse.
There are also penalties for those who write recklessly about this issue. Writers are better off knowing them than facing the law over details disclosed in a story or a post, however good their intentions.
No child should have to carry that for life. How we write about them matters.
