Capitol PIO to spearhead Internet patrol vs. cyberporn

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol’s Provincial Information Office (PIO) will spearhead the participation of the local government units in the internet patrol as an answer to the call to help abate, or better still, eradicate cyber-pornography in the Province of Cebu.

PIO administrative consultant Perla Agudo believes that the net patrol may well be adapted as part of the responsibilities of the PIO.

“I think we have the capabilities to lead the proposed internet patrol because we always access the internet to acquire and disseminate information, and the Information Technology (IT) Office is also under PIO,” Agudo said.

Agudo proposed a committee to run the PIO’s anti-cybersex campaign that is comprised of representatives from its composite offices, namely; the administrative office, Cebu TV, Cebu Monthly, and IT office.

One of the initial plans of PIO is to come up with a campaign slogan against the crime to be uploaded to the Capitol’s website, published in Cebu Monthly and to be aired on Cebu TV.

Similar to barangay patrol which effectively engaged the citizens to the anti-crime drive in their localities, net patrol encourage the netizens to report pornographic websites to proper government authorities.

The Provincial Board earlier passed the resolution sponsored by Board Member Thadeo Ouano requesting the LGUs in the whole province to support the Department of Justice’s internet patrol against child prostitution.

Ouano believes that the program will also work against cyber-pornography which continues to creep into the Cebuano community. 

The request stemmed from the recent arrest of parents who used and exposed their minor daughters to cyber-pornography in their own home in Cordova town last month.

Ouano said that to combat these gruesome crimes, resources should be channeled together with the involvement of the community to strengthen awareness-raising and education campaigns focused on online pornography.

According to Justice Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy, internet patrol is similar to barangay patrols where citizens conduct patrols to bolster the campaign against criminality in their communities.

It urged the public to step up their efforts to report to the proper government authorities exploitative websites, particularly those promoting child prostitution.—(FREEMAN)