The Supreme Court (SC) recently convened a session focused on strengthening the justice sector’s response to Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) in the tri-city Justice Zones of Cagayan de Oro, Ozamiz and Iligan.

The session, titled “Restoring Dignity, Delivering Justice: The Tri-City Justice Sector Coordinative Response to OSAEC,” was held at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City as part of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) 2025 Open Gov Week, hosted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The Philippines is a founding member of the OGP, an international partnership of governments and civil society organizations promoting transparent, participatory, inclusive, and accountable governance.

Sessions were led by the Office of Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh and centered on enhancing the government’s approach to OSAEC within the Justice Zones of Cagayan de Oro, Ozamiz, and Iligan, which were launched on 3 September 2024.

The Justice Zones are a flagship program of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), composed of the SC, the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

These zones aim to improve coordination among local justice sector institutions, serving as collaborative platforms for law enforcement, prosecution, the judiciary, corrections, and the community. This initiative aligns with the target outcomes of the SC’s reform agenda -- the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI).

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking identified Cagayan de Oro, Ozamiz, and Iligan as the top cities in Region X with the highest number of anti-OSAEC operations from 2020 to 2023.

These cities also have the highest number of convictions for OSAEC, trafficking in persons, and related crimes from 2003 to the present. The tri-city Justice Zones serve as pioneering models in addressing child exploitation.

Speaking on behalf of Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, Atty. Amabel Kay L. Africa delivered the opening remarks, stressing the SC’s commitment to building a fair, efficient, and victim-centered justice system through the Justice Zones.

She also said that addressing the deeply rooted issue of OSAEC requires a deliberate, personal, and restorative approach – a goal achievable by applying open government principles and further strengthening the Justice Zones.