Phl, Canada sign child protection vs sexual abuse agreement

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) signed separate agreements with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on the protection of children and youth against sexual abuse.

The agreements were signed to further enhance cooperation between the Philippines and Canada in preventing and fighting crimes against children, protecting child victims and addressing the issue of the entry of sex offenders to the Philippines or Canada.

NBI Director Dante Gierran and RCMP Director General for Sensitive and Specialized Investigative Services Chief Superintendent Marie-Claude Arsenault signed the “Arrangement on Cooperation for the Protection of Children and Youth against Sexual Abuse” last July 23 at the NBI headquarters in Manila.

PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management Police Major General Elmo Francis Sarona and Director General Arsenault signed the “Memorandum of Understanding for the Protection of Children and Youth against Sexual Abuse.”

The signing of the agreements formed part of the visit to Manila of Director General Arsenault and RCMP liaison officer Jay Schooley to the Philippines from July 22 to 26.

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, the NBI-Anti Human Trafficking Division, and the Bureau of Immigration-Traffic Control Enforcement Unit also met on separate occasions with the RCMP Delegation to find ways to deepen cooperation and share best practices in combating sexual abuse in children.

The RCMP delegation also visited the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC) in Camp Crame, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Sanctuary Center in Mandaluyong City during their stay in Manila.