By Vanne Elaine Terrazola

Foreign sexual offenders may soon be barred from visiting the Philippines following a bill recently filed in Senate.

Senate Bill No. 2192, authored by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, pushes for the protection of children from “travelling sex offenders” by barring their entry in the country.

In filing the measure, Pimentel cited the 2016 Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism which found that the Philippines as one of the “most-favored” destinations of traveling sex offenders.

“The same report highlighted the fact that because our legal frameworks are weak, our law enforcement has allowed them to remain virtually immune from prosecution,” the reelectionist senator added.

Pimentel noted that the United States and Australian governments have already strengthened their domestic laws by limiting the mobility of their registered sex offenders.

Many countries, including the Philippines, have yet to do the same, he said.

“It is therefore imperative that we take a proactive stance in protecting the Filipino children,” Pimentel said.

SB 2192 proposes to prohibit the entry into the country of any foreign national who has a pending administrative, civil or criminal case involving any sex-related offense or any specified offense of a sexual nature or complexion involving children.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) would be tasked to create and maintain a sex offender registration and notification program.

The DOJ will also be authorized to undertake joint activities to enhance cooperation and mutual assistance with foreign countries and to formulate a shared governmental and inter-governmental information system which include linking with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).

Those who have been convicted in any country of any sex offense involving children, as well as those whose names are included in any sex offender public registry or any such similar database of any country, would be covered by the proposed ban.

A sex offender, who has been convicted of any sex-related offense, would be required to provide information for registration purposes, and failure to comply with such requirements would be meted with penalties.

Under the bill, foreign sex offenders will likewise not be allowed to demand entry into the country by virtue of relationship with a Filipino: whether as a parent, stepparent, adoptive parent or foster parent of a Filipino child, a common law spouse, cohabitant, or a sex partner of a Filipino child’s parent.

In the event that foreign sex offenders managed to step into the country, they will be summarily deported, Pimentel said.

The foreign national shall be ordered to leave immediately and passport visa or travel documents shall be cancelled, he added.

Public officials who will allow the entry of foreign sex offenders will be charged administratively with “grave misconduct” under Civil Service Laws and criminally liable with imprisonment of one to two years or a fine of P500,000, the bill stated.