Cuenco wants committees protecting children convened
Cebu City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco raises an “urgent call” to reconvene the committees that oversee cases of sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
In a resolution approved on Wednesday, Cuenco requested the Office of the Mayor and the Office of the City Administrator to reconvene the Cebu City Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking-Online Exploitation and Abuse of Children (CCIACAT-OSEAC).
He also requested the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) to reconvene the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) pursuant to City Ordinance 2163, and to coordinate with the CCIACAT-OSEAC.
In an interview, Cuenco said this resolution is a follow through of his privilege speech on September 21, 2023 that calls for ‘urgent’ action against Child exploitation and Organ Trafficking.
“Because as I said, kaning mga cases nga sexual trafficking and abuse of minors have been (occurring) lately, naa napuy nadakpan didto sa Pinamungajan, and even here in our city last 2023 dunay three cases nga nasakpan,” said Cuenco.
He said that such cases are mostly done discreetly and usually administered inside the houses, making it difficult for authorities to discover. Cuenco said it is important that the barangays are involved in the inter-agency council to counter these cases, saying that they have the intelligence capability.
“From mga neighbors, mga tanod, makamatikod gyud na sila kung naay mga unusual na (activities), for example, a family nga wala man untay gatrabaho abroad but mukuha man og remittance, so that is already a red flag, more so there is already something fishy that is going on inside the house,” said Cuenco.
According Cuenco, minors are usually the ones being victimized for the sake of money driven by poverty.
Cuenco said that since his privilege speech last year he continue to receive reports but cannot act on it due to the lack of coordination from other agencies like the police and the National Bureau of Investigation.
“There is no proper channel, where witnesses can go through,” said Cuenco.
He highlighted the urgency to reconvene the said councils and the appointment of its members. -