Philippine News Digest 136

Week November 12-16, 2007

Contents:

• Saving the youth from risks
• Girl in alleged suicide act might have been raped–doctor
• RP second in Asia, fourth worldwide in child porn

Parents warned not to let children beg
By Chris Ligan
Cebu Daily News

Last updated 09:21am (Mla time) 11/16/2007

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Parents who use their children to beg in the streets may find themselves facing charges for child abuse.

Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo said that as Christmas approaches, parents of poor families often task their children to go out and beg.

This act is tantamount to child abuse, according to Carillo, legal counsel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7)

He said that last year, 11 parents were charged and convicted for doing this.

Begging, he said is also punishable under the Anti-Mendicancy Act and the City Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance

Under the city ordinance, those caught begging or giving to beggars are penalized P1,000.

The councilor said a city task force composed of City Hall personnel and policemen is already roaming the city looking for violators, especially children who chase vehicles at intersections.

Adults who are caught will be arrested and jailed, while minors will be turned over to drop-in centers.

Girl in alleged suicide act might have been raped–doctor
By Nef Lucson
Mindanao Bureau

Last updated 07:26pm (Mla time) 11/15/2007

DAVAO CITY — Mariannet Amper, the 12-year-old girl, who allegedly committed suicide because of poverty might have been raped, a medico legal of the Scene of Crime Operation (SOCO) in Southern Mindanao said after an autopsy was performed on the girl Thursday.

“May punit ang [There’s a tear on the] hymen” was how Dr. Tomas Dimalandang described the results.

But Dimalandang added that the lacerations had healed, indicating that the injuries on her genitals were not recent.

“The penetration could also be succeeding or just single,” Dimalandang said during a press conference here Thursday.

The autopsy on the girl’s body was performed after the family agreed in a bid to settle speculations on her death.

RP second in Asia, fourth worldwide in child porn
Manila Times, Wednesday, November 14, 2007
By Sammy Martin, Correspondent

ALARMED over reports that child pornography is becoming rampant in the country, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. is seeking a new law that will stop the problem or at least minimize it.

Revilla, chairman of the Senate committee on Public Information and Mass Media, wants to address child pornography’s proliferation in various media, particularly in the Internet and other forms of digital communication. He noted that the website www.TopTenReviews.com reported that the Philippines ranked second in child pornography in Asia and fourth worldwide.

Among those invited to share their ideas on the proposed anti-child pornography law are: Philippine National Police Chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr.; National Bureau of Investigation Director Nestor Mantaring; Jean Enriquez, director of the Coalition against Trafficking of Women in Asia-Pacific; Cindy Dollente-Ang, president of the Philippine Alliance Against Pornography; Ruperto Nicdao, president of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas; and William Torres, chairman of the Philippine Internet Services Organization.

“Let’s see what our resource persons can contribute so we can formulate an effective law to finally eradicate child pornography in the country, may it be in child porn sites or other mediums,” Revilla said.

Revilla also refiled his “Anti Pornography Act” bill, which will be tackled during the hearing. The bill seeks to slap stiffer penalties against people or entities who publish, broadcast and exhibit pornographic materials in traditional media, the Internet, cellular phones and other forms of media.

The Revilla bill also aims to supplement Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Under the Revised Penal Code, the act of proliferating pornographic materials over the Internet and mobile phones do not have clear penalties. In Revilla’s bill, such acts will be punishable with imprisonment from 12 to 20 years and a fine of not less than P20,000.

updated November 16, 2007