Acting Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Frederic Vida led the opening of the three-day Justice Summit to address the growing challenges faced by vulnerable sectors — particularly women and children — through education, awareness, and coordinated national action, with a central focus on curbing online sexual exploitation.

Vida said the summit aims to bring together government agencies, civil society groups, and communities to strengthen the country’s justice mechanisms and promote a unified approach in protecting those most at risk.

“Government can only do so much. The bigger part lies with society,” Vida said in an interview. “There’s no monopoly of good intentions or wisdom here — that’s why we need everyone at the table.”

He explained that the summit seeks to build a “whole-of-society” effort to address systemic gaps in handling abuse cases, from reporting and investigation to prosecution and rehabilitation. The initiative, he added, will also emphasize education and proper protocols for both the public and law enforcers.

“Education is key — not just for the public, but for those in government,” Vida said. “We must know the right protocols when an incident is reported. Even the wrong kind of questioning can retraumatize a victim. That’s why science and proper training must guide our actions.”

Vida said this year’s Justice Summit coincides with National Children’s Month, underscoring the need to place child protection and online safety at the center of policy discussions. The multi-day event, which runs until 06 November 2025, will feature sectoral dialogues and workshops on sexual abuse, harmful social media behavior, and the accountability of parents or guardians involved in exploitation.

He also responded to reports ranking the Philippines among the top sources of online sexual exploitation of children, urging the public to interpret the data carefully.

“We have to read the data correctly,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not that the problem is worsening — it’s that more cases are being reported. We’re still studying the figures.”

The DOJ, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Committee on the Special Protection of Children, continues to strengthen inter-agency mechanisms for investigation and prosecution.

Vida noted that international coordination remains a priority, with the Bureau of Immigration improving its Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) to flag potential offenders at airports and entry points.

“We’ve started identifying and flagging individuals with prior sexual offense records,” he said. “But we also need to balance enforcement with fairness. People can reform — what’s important is to maintain vigilance without prejudice.”

He added that online service providers have been “generally cooperative” in helping law enforcement track and take down exploitative content, although existing legal frameworks still limit the government’s power to compel immediate removals.

Vida noted the need to revisit the country’s legal tools and options as part of a continuing process, with ongoing cooperation and communication with service providers.

The Justice Summit serves as a call to action for all Filipinos to stand united Viin protecting children and ensuring justice for victims of exploitation.

“This is everyone’s fight,” Vida said. “We need the whole nation to say, ‘We’re all in,’ because what’s at stake here is the future of our children and our society.”