Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (seventh from left) joins Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines, Her Excellency Hae Kyong Yu (eighth from left); Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary for International Affairs Emmeline Aglipay Villar (fifth from right); UNICEF Representative Behzad Noubary (seventh from right); The Asia Foundation Country Representative Sam Chittick (sixth from left); and other representatives from national and local government leaders, civil society organizations, private representatives, youth leaders, and child protection advocates at the Pagdiriwang ng mga Tagumpay ng SaferKidsPH Culminating Event on June 3, 2025, at the Fairmont Hotel, Makati. (Photo courtesy of the Supreme Court Communications Office)
DAVAO CITY (June 5)-— Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo has reiterated the Supreme Court’s (SC) firm commitment to protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation (OSAEC), citing key judicial reforms and strategic partnerships that strengthen the country’s legal framework for child protection.
Speaking at the SaferKidsPH Culminating Event held on June 3, 2025, at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City, Chief Justice Gesmundo described SaferKidsPH as a “beacon of hope” and emphasized the importance of collective action to ensure that “every Filipino child grows up in a world where their safety, dignity, and potential are protected.”
The Chief Justice praised the initiative, a collaboration of the Australian Government, UNICEF, The Asia Foundation, and Save the Children Philippines, and reaffirmed the Supreme Court’s full support for its mission. “The SC will continue to hold the door open to a better tomorrow for every Filipino child,” he stated.
Gesmundo outlined several Supreme Court-led reforms:
Implementation of the Family Courts Act IRR to streamline child-related case handling.
Publication of the Family Court Bench Book to guide judges in child-sensitive rulings.
Approval of the Rule on Family Mediation to promote restorative justice.
Victim-Sensitive Guidelines through the Justice Sector Coordinating Council to ensure early access to services and trauma-sensitive legal processes.
He also spotlighted the establishment of the first-ever Anti-OSAEC TriCity Justice Zone in Cagayan de Oro, Ozamis, and Iligan, with another set to open in Region VIII. These are modeled after the existing Anti-Human Trafficking Justice Zone in Zamboanga City.
These efforts fall under the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027 (SPJI), which prioritizes inclusive, tech-driven, and child-centered judicial practices.
While lauding progress, Gesmundo emphasized that much work remains. “This event symbolizes our collective resolve to sustain and expand the impact of SaferKidsPH. The Supreme Court remains steadfast in its commitment to this cause, collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure that every child is protected from harm, both in the digital realm and beyond.”
Among those present were Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu, DSWD Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay Villar, DOJ NCC-OSAEC Executive Director Barbara Mae Flores, UNICEF Representative Behzad Noubary, and Asia Foundation Country Representative Sam Chittick.
The event, titled “Pagdiriwang ng mga Tagumpay ng SaferKidsPH,” marked the culmination of the program’s six-year journey toward building a safer and more secure future for children across the Philippines.
