The Anti-Indecency Board in Dumaguete is closely monitoring internet cafes and karaoke bars in the city, Bridget Frederix, paralegal officer of the non-government organization Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation, said yesterday.

She said that starting last year, the Board has been making the rounds of cyber cafes and karaoke bars as exploitation and trafficking of minors, especially cybersex trafficking, have become problems in Negros Oriental.

Recruiting minors to work in cybersex dens continues as more internet cafes are being put up in the towns and cities, Frederix said, adding that every municipality now has cyber cafes, and some have small, closed private rooms inside.

She related how a foreigner was able to exploit a group of children in Zamboanguita town and got away with it. The foreigner, whose name she did not disclosed, had little boys and girls go to his house under the pretext of sending them to school and paying for their studies. She said the parents trusted him with their children believing he was a good man.

An investigation by the police, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the GWAVE revealed that the unnamed foreigner was sexually exploiting and trafficking the children, Frederix said, adding that rape charges was filed against the foreigner but the six warrants have not yet been served to the suspects.*RG

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