Online child porn in Iligan alarms religious network

An international network of the religious advocating child and women rights was alarmed by online sexual exploitation of minors in Iligan.

Talitha Kum has discovered new cases of sexual abuse of children perpetrated over the internet, said Sr. Adel Celeste Abamo, SDS, network’s coordinator for Asia.

One of the victims was a 13-year old girl who was asked to strip in exchange for a smartphone, she pointed out.

In exchange for a smartphone

“The victim nearly took her own life after learning her nude photos went out public on the social media,” Abamo said.

The girl’s mother was an overseas worker, she added.

“Most of the victims are minors,” Abamo said. “The exploitation usually involves parents, relatives, and neighbors.”

The victims include non-Catholics, she added.

Counselling, home visits

In an Aug. 24 post by GMA News this year, 3 women – a mother, daughter and a relative – were reportedly arrested in barangay Dalipuga for child pornography.

Twelve minors were also rescued by authorities from a suspected online child pornography den in barangay Tambacan, according to a post by Sunstar on Nov. 5, 2015.

Iligan is a first class highly urbanized city in Northern Mindanao.

“Victims of human trafficking usually suffer from forced labor, sexual abuse and other inhuman treatments abroad,” she said.

According to Abamo, Talitha Kum finds out about the sexual exploitation of minors and human trafficking through referrals. The network conducts counseling and home visitation for victims.

Founded in 2009, Talitha Kum means “arise.” It currently has a growing number of religious advocates in 11 countries in Asia.