Arroyo signs anti-child porn bill into law
AIE BALAGTAS SEE, GMANews.TV
11/19/2009 | 12:30 AM
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has signed into law a bill criminalizing child pornography, Malacañang announced Wednesday.
Republic Act No. 9775 or Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 penalizes offenders with one-month imprisonment to life sentence, and a fine of P300,000 P5 million, depending on the gravity of the offense.
The new law defines child pornography as “any representation, whether visual, audio or written combination thereof, by electronic, mechanical, digital, optical, magnetic or any other means, of a child engaged or involved in real or simulated explicit sexual activity."
Tarlac Rep. Monica Teodoro, one of the principal authors of the bill, hailed the development.
“We used to be a haven for child pornography proliferators and foreign pedophiles, now our country is going to be a safe haven for children," she said.
Under the law, a “child victim" is as any person, regardless of age, that was portrayed as a child. Computer-generated, digitally or manually crafted images or graphics of a person who was made to appear like a child would also be considered as victim.
Victims are recognized as “victims of a violent crime" and may claim for compensation before the Board of Claims under the Department of Justice.
They are also entitled to emergency or appropriate housing services, counseling, free legal services, medical or psychological services, livelihood and skills training, and educational assistance.
The creation of an Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography was also mandated under the new law. t will have three representatives from children's non-governmental organizations and would be headed by the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Local government units, meanwhile, are tasked to regulate internet cafes or kiosks within their areas. Internet service providers, Internet content hosts, owners of mall, and other business establishments were likewise required to report any forms of child pornography committed within their jurisdiction.
The DOJ would appoint special prosecutors to handle child pornography cases. But as a transitional crime, the Justice department may request help from foreign countries for the investigation and prosecution of an offender.
The new bill could also be used by the Justice and Foreign affairs department as among the extraditable offenses in future treaties. - GMANews.TV
Republic Act No. 9775 or Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 penalizes offenders with one-month imprisonment to life sentence, and a fine of P300,000 P5 million, depending on the gravity of the offense.
The new law defines child pornography as “any representation, whether visual, audio or written combination thereof, by electronic, mechanical, digital, optical, magnetic or any other means, of a child engaged or involved in real or simulated explicit sexual activity."
Tarlac Rep. Monica Teodoro, one of the principal authors of the bill, hailed the development.
“We used to be a haven for child pornography proliferators and foreign pedophiles, now our country is going to be a safe haven for children," she said.
Under the law, a “child victim" is as any person, regardless of age, that was portrayed as a child. Computer-generated, digitally or manually crafted images or graphics of a person who was made to appear like a child would also be considered as victim.
Victims are recognized as “victims of a violent crime" and may claim for compensation before the Board of Claims under the Department of Justice.
They are also entitled to emergency or appropriate housing services, counseling, free legal services, medical or psychological services, livelihood and skills training, and educational assistance.
The creation of an Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography was also mandated under the new law. t will have three representatives from children's non-governmental organizations and would be headed by the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Local government units, meanwhile, are tasked to regulate internet cafes or kiosks within their areas. Internet service providers, Internet content hosts, owners of mall, and other business establishments were likewise required to report any forms of child pornography committed within their jurisdiction.
The DOJ would appoint special prosecutors to handle child pornography cases. But as a transitional crime, the Justice department may request help from foreign countries for the investigation and prosecution of an offender.
The new bill could also be used by the Justice and Foreign affairs department as among the extraditable offenses in future treaties. - GMANews.TV
