Legarda seeks Senate probe on ‘Epstein Files’ to safeguard Filipino children from exploitation

Senator Loren Legarda has filed Senate Resolution No. 300 urging the Senate to launch a full investigation into the “Epstein files.” The resolution warns that the Philippines may have been exploited as a base for digital cover-up operations aimed at manipulating public perception, and calls for decisive action to protect Filipino children and reinforce the country’s compliance with international human rights obligations.

“Our children must never be exposed to exploitation networks, whether here or abroad. The Epstein files reveal disturbing global operations, and we have a duty to ensure that the Philippines is not used as a platform for concealment or abuse,” Legarda said.

Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier convicted of sex offenses, was accused of running a global trafficking network. Arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges, he died in custody while awaiting trial in New York. The “Epstein files,” released by the U.S. Department of Justice, contain thousands of pages of depositions, testimonies, emails, and communications documenting the scope of his operations worldwide. Among these documents are details indicating that Epstein hired a Philippine-based team in 2010 to manipulate online search results and obscure his criminal record.

Legarda’s resolution uses these revelations to call for vigilance and accountability. It urges government agencies to ensure that Philippine institutions and digital platforms are not exploited to conceal or enable crimes. The Senator cited Article II, Section 13 of the Constitution on youth protection, recalls the Philippines’ obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Optional Protocol, and ASEAN’s Declaration on Online Exploitation, and underscores existing laws such as RA 11930 (Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act), RA 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography Act), and RA 9208 as amended by RA 10364 and RA 11862 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022) to reinforce the country’s legal framework against trafficking and child.

“These laws are clear: trafficking, child pornography, and concealment of exploitation are crimes. If Filipino individuals or entities were involved in Epstein’s digital cover-up operations, we must investigate thoroughly and hold accountable those who undermine our protections,” Legarda stressed.

The resolution mandates the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to investigate possible concealment and manipulation of facts; the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography (IACACP) to assess regulation of internet intermediaries and reputation-management services; and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to engage with the United States and other jurisdictions to secure authenticated information.

These agencies are directed to submit a consolidated report to the Senate within ninety (90) days, detailing verified findings, including: an assessment of whether Filipino individuals or entities warrant further investigation; the factual circumstances and nature of any identified involvement or exposure; applicable legal provisions and potential liabilities; and recommended legislative amendments, regulatory safeguards, and enforcement measures.

“We must strengthen our safeguards to protect victims and to ensure that the Philippines is never exploited as a hub for concealment. This is about accountability, prevention, and compliance with our human rights obligations,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda asserted that through this Resolution, the Senate aims to uncover the extent of any involvement, close potential policy gaps, and ensure that the Philippines remains a safe and accountable digital environment for future generations. (30)

———————————————————————-

Legarda nanawagan ng imbestigasyon sa ‘Epstein Files’ para protektahan ang kabataang Pilipino laban sa pagsasamantala

Naghain si Senadora Loren Legarda ng Senate Resolution No. 300 na humihikayat sa Senado na magsagawa ng masusing imbestigasyon hinggil sa “Epstein files.” Binabala ng resolusyon na maaaring nagamit ang Pilipinas bilang base ng digital cover-up operations na layong manipulahin ang pananaw ng publiko, at nanawagan ng agarang aksyon upang mapangalagaan ang kabataang Pilipino at matiyak ang pagsunod ng bansa sa pandaigdigang obligasyon sa karapatang pantao.

“Hindi dapat mailantad ang ating mga anak sa mga network ng pagsasamantala, saan man ito nagaganap. Ipinapakita ng Epstein files ang nakababahalang operasyon sa buong mundo, at tungkulin nating tiyakin na ang Pilipinas ay hindi nagiging plataporma ng pagtatakip o pang-aabuso,” ani Legarda.

Si Jeffrey Epstein, isang Amerikanong financier na nahatulang may kasong seksuwal, ay inakusahan ng pagpapatakbo ng pandaigdigang trafficking network. Inaresto siya noong 2019 sa kasong federal sex trafficking at namatay habang nakapiit sa New York. Ang “Epstein files,” na inilabas ng U.S. Department of Justice, ay naglalaman ng libu-libong pahina ng deposition, testimonya, email, at komunikasyon na nagdodokumento ng lawak ng kanyang operasyon. Kabilang sa mga dokumento ang detalye na noong 2010 ay kumuha si Epstein ng grupo sa Pilipinas upang manipulahin ang resulta ng online search at itago ang kanyang criminal record.

Ginamit ni Legarda ang mga rebelasyong ito upang manawagan ng mas mataas na pagbabantay at pananagutan. Hinikayat ng resolusyon ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan na tiyakin na ang mga institusyon at digital platforms sa Pilipinas ay hindi nagagamit upang magkubli o magpahintulot ng krimen. Binanggit ng Senadora ang Article II, Section 13 ng Konstitusyon hinggil sa proteksyon ng kabataan, at inalala ang obligasyon ng Pilipinas sa UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ang Optional Protocol, at ang ASEAN Declaration on Online Exploitation. Kabilang din ang umiiral na batas gaya ng RA 11930 (Anti-OSAEC at Anti-CSAEM Act), RA 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography Act), at RA 9208 na inamyendahan ng RA 10364 at RA 11862 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022) upang palakasin ang legal na balangkas laban sa trafficking at pang-aabuso sa bata.

“Malinaw ang mga batas: krimen ang trafficking, child pornography, at pagtatakip sa pagsasamantala. Kung may Pilipinong indibidwal o entidad na sangkot sa digital cover-up operations ni Epstein, dapat itong imbestigahan nang lubusan at papanagutin ang sinumang sumisira sa ating proteksyon,” diin ni Legarda.

Inaatasan ng resolusyon ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), at Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) na magsiyasat sa posibleng pagtatakip at manipulasyon ng impormasyon; ang Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) at Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography (IACACP) na suriin ang regulasyon sa internet intermediaries at reputation-management services; at ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) na makipag-ugnayan sa Estados Unidos at iba pang hurisdiksyon upang makakuha ng beripikadong impormasyon.

Inaatasan ang mga ahensyang ito na magsumite ng pinagsamang ulat sa Senado sa loob ng siyamnapung (90) araw, na naglalaman ng beripikadong natuklasan, kabilang ang: pagsusuri kung may Pilipinong indibidwal o entidad na dapat pang imbestigahan; ang mga tiyak na pangyayari at kalikasan ng anumang natukoy na pagkakasangkot o pagkakalantad; mga umiiral na probisyon ng batas at posibleng pananagutan; at mga rekomendasyon para sa amyenda sa batas, karagdagang regulasyon, at pagpapatupad ng mga panukala.

“Dapat nating palakasin ang ating mga pananggalang upang maprotektahan ang mga biktima at matiyak na ang Pilipinas ay hindi nagiging sentro ng pagtatakip. Ito ay usapin ng pananagutan at pagtupad sa ating obligasyon sa karapatang pantao,” pagtatapos ni Legarda.

Iginiit ni Legarda na sa pamamagitan ng resolusyong ito, layon ng Senado na tuklasin ang lawak ng anumang pagkakasangkot, isara ang mga puwang sa polisiya, at matiyak na ang Pilipinas ay nananatiling ligtas at may pananagutan sa digital na kapaligiran para sa susunod na henerasyon. (30)