Filipinos who colluded with French pedophile Bouhalem Bouchiba, recently sentenced in a Paris court for online sexual abuses involving numerous Filipino victims over more than a decade, should be held accountable under the law.
“It is disgusting. All his accomplices in the Philippines must be punished and put behind bars,” former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. said.
The Department of Justice earlier said it is actively coordinating with the Philippine National Police to pursue those who assisted Bouchiba.
The DOJ is also coordinating with the PNP’s Women and Children Protection Center and the National Coordination Center Against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children to ensure a thorough investigation and accountability for the perpetrators.
“Those who colluded with Bouchiba in his online sexual abuses must be held accountable, especially as many of the victims are young Filipino girls,” Abalos said.
He said Bouchiba, along with criminals like serial child trafficker Teddy Jay Mejia, who is accused of abusing and exploiting 111 underage girls, should rot in jail.
Mejia was apprehended in September in the United Arab Emirates and was returned to the Philippines by Abalos and General Portia Manalad after successful coordination with UAE and Interpol. He now faces charges of qualified trafficking, statutory rape, and violations under Republic Act No. 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act.
To combat these crimes, Abalos reiterated his call from the 33rd Session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ33) in Vienna, Austria, last May for countries to enact laws that penalize end-users who view or download child sexual abuse or exploitation materials.
“What many don’t realize is that every click on such materials is an act of violation and assault. Every nation has a responsibility to protect children, and these crimes can be stopped if every nation participates in passing laws banning these materials and punishing end-users,” Abalos said.
Before stepping down to run for senator, Abalos issued Memorandum Circular 2024-140 that mandates all local government units to establish their own anti-online sexual abuse or exploitation of children ordinance and anti-child sexual abuse or exploitation materials ordinance in line with Republic Act 11930.
