Counter Pedophilia Investigate Unit

philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Arroyo has signed Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 which seeks to make Filipino children less vulnerable to the illicit trade by imposing stiff penalties on anyone found guilty of any form of involvement in child pornography and enjoining private entities to help in the effort, according to local media Wednesday.

Republic Act 9775, which Arroyo signed on Tuesday, defines child pornography as “any representation, whether visual, audio, or written combination thereof, by electronic, mechanical, digital, optical, magnetic or any other means, or a child engaged or involved in real or simulated explicit sexual activities.”

It provides that a victim of child pornography shall be considered as a victim of a violent crime, and metes out penalties ranging from mayor to reclusion perpetual and a fine of 300,000 to 5 million pesos (6438 to 107,296 U.S. dollars).

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