PHL pushes for laws on child abuse, pornography in SE Asia

Philippine lawmakers on Thursday pushed for common laws on child abuse and child pornography during a meeting of parliamentarians from nine Southeast Asian countries. House Deputy Speaker and Zamboanga City Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco urged her fellow lawmakers from the region to adopt a common definition of child abuse and child pornography during the 3rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Inter-Parliamentary Assembly. "As legislators, we can only do so much. Our children are the future leaders of our country," Climaco said during the caucus, held at the Batasan Pambansa Complex, home of the House of Representatives, in Quezon City. Climaco, who represented the Philippines, also called for a common legal framework and uniform penalties for child pornography in ASEAN's nine member-states who attended the assembly. La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, who chaired the caucus, said it is important for ASEAN states to pass common legislation to effectively address issues concerning children. "Mas maganda kung similar para parang isang country na lang. Maski gaano kahigpit natin kung sa ibang bansa wala naman, parang wala pa rin," he said at a press briefing after the meeting. He said that delegates from the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have also agreed to address the problem of street children in Sabah during the caucus. "The different governments will try to come up with solutions. After they investigate the matter, they will recommend what needs to be done in terms of legislation," he said. The recommendations from the caucus will further be tackled during the general assembly of ASEAN member-states in September, when the countries will come up with resolutions on legislations they will prioritize. Other countries that sent delegates to the caucus include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. — KBK, GMA News