Dahino airs concern over spike of OSEC cases in Oro

COUNCILOR Edna Marban Dahino, chair of the City Council committee on women and family relations, on Monday aired her concern over the increase in Online Sexual Exploitation of Children or OSEC cases in the city.

In her special report during the regular session presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy, Councilor Dahino said it is very disheartening that Cagayan de Oro City has been identified as a hotspot for the online sexual exploitation of children in Region 10.

The region has become the epicenter of online sexual abuse, based on the discussion during a recent meeting with the members of the City Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, she cited.

According to Councilor Dahino, during a radio interview PNP Cybercrime Unit 10 Chief Police Colonel Dominador Estrada said that Cagayan de Oro ranks number one in the region in cases of Online Sexual Abuse And Exploitation of Children. According to data most of the cases involve high school students from big schools in the city.

It was learned that the agency is facing difficulty stopping OSEC with the many chat groups sprouting online that facilitate this kind of illegal activity.

As proposed by Councilor Dahino, Vice Mayor Uy referred the report to the committees on education chaired by Councilor Suzette Magtajas-Daba, on social services chaired by Councilor Girlie Balaba, and on women and family relations for appropriate action.

Dahino said PCol. Estrada and the Department of Education (DepEd) officials will be invited to attend the meeting.