Wednesday, July 11, 2007 Ocampo: Child pornography in DVD anyone? By Tek Ocampo Saksi
I WAS looking for a good material for our re-launching of TESTIGO that features an investigative report segment called KASTIGADOR. Kastigador means "the punisher." But it's not really meant to do that.
We need a different but catchy title distinct from Mike Enriquez's IMBESTIGADOR from which it derived inspiration. Kastigador aims to investigate and expose anomalies committed by individuals, or groups, in government or private sector that affects and violate the rights of others.
It started with a phone call from a concerned citizen. The person who refused to be identified reported to us that pornographic materials were being sold along the sidewalks of Davao. I took the liberty to check the veracity of the information by walking along the main thoroughfares in the city. First stop was Gov. Duterte St., where vendors were selling pornographic films on DVD and VCD format aside from common pirated films and music CDs. But the most shocking part was the display and open sale of child pornographic materials.
As I continued to go around the city, I saw more vendors selling child pornographic movies in plain view of the civilians and law enforcers alike. They were found along R. Magsaysay Ave, C.M. Recto, San Pedro...meaning all over the city. I was told that it first became available last year.
We decided to develop the story and took footage on how the actual trade of pornographic movies is done. We assigned one of our personnel to act as a buyer. The event was recorded on video. Believe it or not, a child was the one selling the child porn movie to our buyer.
Last Friday, we brought the video tape to Councilor Angela Librado Trinidad for viewing. She could not believe what her eyes were seeing. Sale of such materials even by mere pictures is a violation to the Anti-Smut ordinance. More so with the child vendor exposed to pornographic materials at such a young age makes the act even more reprehensible.
Senior Superintendent Jaime Morente, director of the Davao City Police Office, admitted that pornographic movies have very strong influence on people committing rape and other related crimes. Then I asked myself: What is happening to our moral values? What is happening to our laws?
Councilor Librado informed Mayor Rodrigo Duterte about our investigation. Expectedly the mayor was infuriated. On Saturday, Duterte immediately ordered the police to confiscate all pornographic materials and arrest the people involved in the illegal trade. However, the mayor released the vendors the following day on the condition that no single pornographic movie will ever be sold in Davao again. If one is caught, all DVD and VCD vendors will no longer be allowed to sell on sidewalks the mayor said.
I have nothing against the vendors; it's their means of livelihood. But the welfare of the children and the rights of the people should not be compromised over such immoral doing.
It is ironic that it took the mayor to remind the police to do their job in ridding the sidewalks of pornographic materials. The selling of such offensive materials is illegal and that the police can immediately take action especially if such materials are in plain view. Well, tell that to the policemen manning the outpost in R. Magsaysay corner Lizada St. The vendors are just right beside them and yet they did nothing, not until after receiving the orders from the mayor.
But the people involved were released. I just pray and hope that this will never happen again. The victims are our children and our women. Let us not allow such offensive materials to poison the young minds of our children and destroy their future. Let us not allow pornographic movies to trigger another crime of rape. We can do all of this if we will unite and help one another in fighting pornography in our city. And, lastly, I hope that our police will continue to be vigilant and make sure that such highly offensive materials will never be sold in Davao City again.
