MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. reminded members of the Filipino community and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in the United States to avoid downloading, possessing, viewing, transporting, distributing and selling child pornography, or risk arrests, detention and deportation.
In an advisory released last Saturday, the Philippine Embassy warned Filipinos, not just living and working in the mainland United States, but including those onboard vessels in US territorial waters, to “desist” activities in relation to child pornography, reminding the public that “child pornography is one of the worst forms of child exploitation” and consuming it “perpetuates such exploitation.”
This is in relation with the increasing incidents of arrests, detention and deportation of individuals due to child pornography-related offenses, the Philippine Embassy said.
“U.S. federal and state laws criminalize the production or promotion of child pornography. Individuals caught possessing, viewing, transporting and distributing child pornography can be prosecuted, penalized, and deported,” the advisory stated.
“In this regard, everyone is enjoined to desist from downloading, possessing, viewing, transporting, distributing and selling child pornography,” the advisory added.
Earlier, reports surfaced about Filipino crew members from a cruise ship being “forcibly removed”, “detained”, and “deported” to the Philippines on accusations of viewing “child sexual abuse materials.”
The incident sparked protests among Filipino-American communities and immigrant rights advocates, according to reports.
In response, the Philippine Embassy emphasized that it “respects the right of individuals to seek redress of grievances or take legal actions if they feel they have been wrongly accused of legal infractions.”
Meanwhile, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac assured the public that his office will look into the incident.
In his post on X on Monday, Cacdac said that “DMW will talk to the cruise ship workers who have been deported to gather details, and provide assistance to them.”
The @DMWPHL will talk to the cruise ship workers who have been deported to gather details, and provide assistance to them.
— hans leo j. cacdac (@HansLeoCacdac) July 21, 2025
The Embassy also advises individuals concerned to contact the Philippine Embassy or the nearest Philippine Consulate General and Migrant Workers Office for consular and welfare assistance.
