BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, March 26 (PIA) – Twenty-six elementary students of Barangay Ibabao Elementary School in Cordova town were given recognition as advocates of child rights helping the local government in its aggressive drive against child cyber pornography, a branded issue attached to the town’s image.
Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy led the recognition rites of the student-advocates inside the small school ground witnessed by other local and school officials Monday afternoon.
The culmination program was part of the ‘Save the Children’ campaign in a bid to educate public schoolchildren on the government’s drive on anti-child cybersex and their basic rights.
Sitoy reminded the over 100 elementary students to study hard and in the dialect added “Kamo ang paglaum sa lungsod og nasud” (You are the hope of the town and country).
He also assured them the local government will continue to fight for the rights of children as it is important for them to have a bright future ahead.
“Basig naa ninyo mahimong kapitan, mayor sa lungsod, congressman o gobernador. Unya naay uban mahimong maestro ba kaha (Maybe one of you will be a future barangay captain, town mayor, congressman or governor. And others will perhaps become teachers)," said Sitoy.
The town of Cordova has been branded as the capital of child cyber pornography when the expose of the illegal operations surfaced a few years back.
Some of the cases involved parents themselves who pimp their own children into cyber porn to foreign clients online.
According to Cordova Councilor Angeles Gairanod who chairs the Committee on Child Protection, the persons behind the cyber porn cases in Cordova are now behind bars and the children taken into custody by the social welfare department.
“That is why we are going aggressive in our education campaign against cyber pornography and we are tapping student advocates to educate the youths about their rights. We are strengthening our values formation in schools in partnership with the Dep Ed and we are also providing sessions to parents on family values,” said Gairanod.
Cases of child cyber pornography were concentrated in Barangay Ibabao which Gairanod attributed to its very interior location giving operators a good hiding spot from authorities.
“But we are giving them a stern warning to stop their illegal activities as the municipal government is very serious in pursuing them. We will run after them,” warned Gairanod.
Since the municipal government went on an all-out battle to rage a war against child cyber pornography, Gairanod said cases have been dwindling so far adding that they won’t let up their massive information and education drive so poor households, the susceptible victims, would remain staunch not to sell their values for cheap money-making scheme.
In order to heighten awareness of the issue, the municipal government is mulling on celebrating a ‘Stop Child Cyber Pornography’ Month either July or August, disclosed Gairanod.
Gairanod said the recognition event was also part of the series of activities in celebration of March as Women’s Month.
Other activities included free haircut for women to promote good grooming and family planning sessions to poor households. (rmn/FCR/PIA-7)