2025 National Children's Month Celebration: Protect Their Innocence


The 2025 National Children's Month Celebration, themed “OSAEC-CSAEM Wakasan: Kaligtasan at Karapatan ng Bata, Ipaglaban!” (End Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials: Fight for the Safety and Rights of Children!), underlining the necessity to address the growing threat of online exploitation. Nowadays, children face unprecedented risks due to the progressive state of the digitworld, highlighting the demand for protection. In my view, while the government has made strides in protecting children's safety, dignity, and rights, there is still much work to be done. 


The National Children's Month in the Philippines is celebrated annually every November in accordance to the Republic Act No. 10661. It commemorates the UNCRC's adoption on November 20, 1989. This celebrations' main purpose is to shed light on issues regarding children, ultimately promoting their rights. One of the issues tackled on this year's NCMC 2025 is child exploitation. 

In Davao City, Philippines, Carlito Sanchez Panolino was apprehended on September 7, 2024, by the Women and Children Protection Center-Mindanao Field Unit (WCPC-MFU) for alleged online sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest, made in cooperation with the Australian Federal Police, International Justice Mission (IJM), and other government bodies, resulted in the rescue of the minor victim. According to WCPC-MFU officials, Panolino used Facebook to offer the minor for sexual acts in return for payment. The suspect was identified and arrested after online investigators from WCPC-MFU interacted with him. Authorities confiscated key evidence that will be used to support charges of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) against Panolino (WCPC-MFU, 2024).

 
Strengthening law enforcement capabilities, enhancing digital literacy programs for children and parents, and providing comprehensive support services for victims are critical areas for improvement. Protecting children requires a multi-faceted approach that involves collaboration between government, civil society, and families to ensure that every child can grow up in a safe and nurturing environment, free from the dangers of online exploitation.

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