Strong measures vs cyberporn pushed

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has called for a strong measure to counter the accessibility of explicit content on social media and pornographic sites.

The City Council urged the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to intensify their campaign against cyberpornography to counter obscene and explicit materials being posted online.

During the latest council session, the local legislative body pushed for a city-funded public Wi-Fi service to block any porn sites. The body also encouraged private Wi-Fi services to do the same. To further address the problem, an executive session was called for March 5, 2025.

The council also called on Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to activate the Cebu City Inter-agency Council against Trafficking and Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children.

This stemmed from the privilege speech delivered by Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover, who discussed the rise of information technology that parallels the industrial revolution. According to him, as civilization currently experiences the 4th industrial revolution, it has also provided a platform for committing crimes.

Citing specifics, Alcover quoted a headline from Banat News on December 28, 2024, the sister publication of The Freeman, which attributed the rape of an eight-year-old child to a video found on a pornographic site.

He quoted the same news item from Banat News, wherein the Toledo Police Station had determined that the case was “alarming” as the victim was abused by three minors. According to Alcover, the gruesome case raised concern on his part, and admitted that was astounded at how the industrial revolution was linked to its execution.

“Dali ug yano nalang kaayo ma-access, or masud sa mga menor de edad ang porn sites sa internet,” said Alcover.

According to Alcover, videos of explicit sexual activities are now accessible on certain sites, while advertisements serving as clickbait were even being cascaded on Facebook, an app widely used by people of all ages.

During his speech, Alcover also displayed screengrabs of what he called inappropriate and explicit content being posted online. Alcover took particular notice of this, adding that he is a grandfather himself who worries about the digital safety of his grandchildren, who are minors.

“This is very alarming because almost all of us are using social media, whether minors or adults; everyone now has access to social media,” said Alcover, emphasizing that even pornographic content is now just a click away.

Alcover then cited a provision under Section 3 of Republic Act 10364 that prohibits pornography. The citation defines pornography as any representation, through publication, exhibition, cinematography, indecent shows, information technology, or other means, of a person engaging in real or simulated sexual activities and any representation of sexual parts for primarily sexual purposes.

In line with this technical definition, Alcover stressed the explicit content being posted on Facebook. He further called out content creators who were showing inappropriate sensual content, which, he added, presented sexually suggestive acts.

With this, Alcover highlighted the need for action from civil society to help the city government establish countermeasures against explicit digital content.

“I appeal to the church, Malacañang, the House of Representatives, the Senate, non-governmental organizations, teachers, and other sectors of civil society. We must come up with collaborative responses and concrete measures against the proliferation of pornography on social media,” he said.

He also appealed for mass action, further attributing rape cases and other sexual abuses to the more accessible explicit content. Alcover lamented that society has been silent on the matter, adding that this is a moral issue.

“I call on the religious sector of the Philippines. We are Catholics, and we should do something about this, not just let our churches remain silent. This is a question of moral decay,” Alcover also said.

During the discussion, Councilor Philip Zafra emphasized that it is high time the national government impose strong measures against this concern. (Cebu News)