Sunday, August 13, 2006
Stiffer penalties for cybersex offenders sought
DAVAO City Councilor Pilar Braga said the city need tougher laws to punish cybersex operators.
"With no laws against the sexual exploitation of women and children over the Internet, law enforcers would face uphill battle in its fight against cybersex syndicates in the country," Braga said.
She added that lawmakers should fast track the passage of laws to give more teeth to the government's campaign against cybersex operators.
With no laws crafted to curb the activities of cybersex operators, exploitation on women and children could take a turn for the worse, she said.
Meanwhile, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has filed a bill calling for the imposition of stiffer penalties against cybersex operators throughout the country.
Proposed Senate bill 1945 or the Anti-Cybersex Act of 2005 was filed to fill the void on specific laws against cybersex operators.
Cybersex dens have sprouted throughout the country, reaching as far as Mindanao island to become a major problem in the country due to exploitation on women and children.
Cybersex is a form of Internet pornography wherein men and women perform sexual acts on computer video cameras, which are streamed directly to the computers of paying customers.
Under the proposed bill, cybersex operators may be penalized with 15 years imprisonment and a fine of up to P1-million.
Cybersex den personnel will also be penalized under the bill with imprisonment of up to 12 years and a maximum fine of P500,000.
Protectors or coddlers of cybersex operators will also be penalized with reclusion temporal and a fine ranging from P100,000 to P500,000.
Cybersex has become popular among Internet users because of the ease of access of real-time pornography for a minimal fee. (PIA/RBPalacio)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 13, 2006 issue)
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