The
Interagency Commission against Trafficking - which is composed of a number of
government and law enforcement agencies – has been given the task of ridding
the country of a pedophile ring which has victimized minors, Communications
Secretary Herminio Coloma said on January 16. He emphasizes that the national
government is determined to stop human trafficking in all its forms and
manifestations through joined efforts by all the concerned government agencies
and other countries. In a press briefing, Coloma said “Let me point out that
even before the publication of [the pedophile ring report], the government has
already committed itself to doing everything that needs to be done through
interagency effort, through legislation and through other administrative
measures to stop this trafficking.” He further stresses that human trafficking
is a “matter of high priority” for the government, and has not been prompted by
recent media reports. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the Philippine National
Police (PNP) will be supporting the efforts of the United States, Australia and
Britain against the pedophile rings. In 2013, the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) arrested 27 year-old Aldren Aumento, after UK authorities
had passed on intelligence on money he received from an arrested pedophile.
“Aumento, a computer science graduate, told the Inquirer that he had been
operating a child pornography website since 2009. He said he used children aged
between 3 and 12 years old and paid them Php300 to Php350 (between $5-$8) per
show. His (sic) overseas clients paid him $250.”
Full
account
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/565051/were-going-after-sex-offenders-says-palace