An advocate of child rights in Congress has filed a bill enabling courts to authorize the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation to conduct electronic and communications surveillance of criminals engaged in human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
“House Bill 5651 empowers the courts, PNP, and NBI to fight the cybercriminals using the new technologies the criminals also have. This law updates the crime-fighting capabilities of the PNP, NBI and the courts,” Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera said.
The House deputy majority leader also said, “HB 5651 adds the heads of the DICT, DOTr, DOH, OWWA, and NBI to the membership of the Inter-Agency Council on Trafficking for a more holistic approach to fighting human trafficking.”
“These updates to RA 9208 are in HB 5651’s most extensive and detailed amendments to the Anti-Human Trafficking Law (RA 9208) involve its Sections 8, 16, 20, 21, and 24,” Herrera pointed out.