Aired (December 14, 2024): Ilang kaso ng child abuse sa isang komunidad sa Metro Manila ang tinutukan at inaksyunan ng #ReportersNotebook kasama ang awtoridad! Paano natulungan ang mga bata at ano ang mga hakbang na ginawa?
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00In the study of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund or UNICEF,
00:05there are 60,000 to 100,000 children who were victims of prostitution in the country from 1987 to 2024.
00:15According to the DSWD, one in five children experiences sexual violence.
00:23According to UNICEF, the Philippines is the fourth country with the highest number of prostituted children in the world.
00:31The cases of prostitution are included in the category of High Risk Degree of Child Abuse.
00:40A non-government organization or NGO received a tip
00:44that three bars in Makati are suspected of prostitution
00:48and some of the victims are minors.
00:52When it is confirmed that prostitution is taking place,
01:07three nightclubs in Makati were raided by the NBI Organized and Transnational Crimes Division or NBI-OTCD.
01:23An NGO came to us and asked us for help because there are two bars in Makati that are trafficked by women.
01:34We were able to get information that there are minors there.
01:39When the NBI was able to enter, the women entertainers were held by parochial prostitutes.
01:45These women are being operated by foreigners, not by Filipinos.
01:53They are being operated by foreigners only.
01:57The NBI also considers nightclubs as high-end prostitution
02:01because aside from the price, the parochial prostitutes are chosen to enter the place.
02:06One of the reasons is that they don't know that they are being offered extra services.
02:14According to the authorities,
02:16It's up to them because they applied there not as sex workers.
02:22They applied there to become dancers, waitresses, but they were exploited
02:29because of the large amount of money they were offered.
02:32For one person, they get at least P17,000 to P18,000.
02:43Fifty-nine prostituted women were rescued, including three minors.
02:49No one admitted that there are minors.
02:53Of course, we will examine them.
02:55When we examined them, we found that three of them are minors.
03:01Twelve suspects were arrested, including the owner of a nightclub
03:06They are facing the Violation of Republic Act 9208 or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
03:14Their case is still ongoing.
03:16They are still hearing in Makati.
03:18They filed a petition for bail.
03:20The hearing is still ongoing.
03:23The court has not yet resolved their petition for bail.
03:26In truth, it's not a joke to file a complaint against the abusers.
03:31When we first aired Angel's story in 2019,
03:35the first hearing of the rape case was held,
03:38which was filed by Angel's family.
03:41We received information that Angel won the case only five years later.
03:56Last week, with Erica,
03:58we brought Angel to the Youth Shelter Facility of ECPAT.
04:04Hi!
04:07Merry Christmas!
04:10When did you meet?
04:13Not yet.
04:14How many months?
04:17How old are you?
04:20You're a girl now.
04:22Your face is brighter now.
04:24At least, you're smiling now.
04:30Before, she didn't go to school.
04:32Now, Angel is in Grade 5.
04:35How are you?
04:37I'm fine.
04:38I'm happy.
04:39Why are you crying?
04:40I'm studying.
04:42I'm studying well.
04:44I'm getting better.
04:48Before, she didn't go to school.
04:50Now, she's in Grade 5.
04:53Before, she couldn't read or write.
04:55Now, she's learning little by little.
04:59Angel is very thankful that she was able to survive on the streets.
05:03Now, I'm able to study well.
05:06I have a dream in life.
05:10A long time ago?
05:11Yes, a long time ago.
05:12I was just a kid.
05:14Angel also told us that her parents were released from prison.
05:19I'm very happy because my father was released.
05:23Then, we called each other.
05:27Why are you crying?
05:31Because...
05:35I want to join the law.
05:39One of the best things that happened to Angel this year
05:43is that the law has answered the suspect who attacked her.
05:46She was sentenced to 25 years in prison for assaulting Angel.
05:52How did it help you to resolve the case?
05:58No one will touch me again.
06:00I'm happy because she's in prison now.
06:04My problem has been solved.
06:07Do you still go back to that place?
06:11Or have you already forgiven her?
06:13I don't go back to that trauma anymore.
06:20I don't have that problem anymore.
06:24According to ECPAT, it wasn't easy for them to get custody of the child.
06:29In Angel's case, we just had a hard time
06:34because the pandemic reached her case.
06:37Sometimes, we say that we have a speedy trial for the children
06:43but the process is not that fast.
06:49We are very happy that justice was done for Angel.
06:54Congratulations.
06:56For now, Angel is serving as a sister to the children who are helped by the NGO.
07:01She also has a message to other victims of abuse.
07:04I hope that if you are a victim, you will report to the police or social workers.
07:14Don't be afraid to report.
07:16You've come a long way. I'm so proud of you.
07:19I'm so proud of you.
07:31Five years later, we returned to the place where Angel's family lives.
07:37According to the barangay, after we aired Angel's story,
07:41several cases of child abuse were reported to the police.
07:45Three cases of child abuse were reported to me.
07:49A child was physically abused by an adult.
07:54We have a case of sexual abuse but it was a child-to-child.
07:59We brought it to the Women's Desk.
08:02Because it was a child, the case could not be handled.
08:06It was referred to the DSWD.
08:10According to the barangay, many cases of child abuse were not reported to them.
08:16Because what happens inside the house, the children might be afraid.
08:21They don't report it. That's why it was not reported to the barangay.
08:26According to UNICEF, 8 out of every 10 Filipino children experience violence
08:33at home, school or in their community.
08:39For more UN videos visit www.un.org