AlJazeeraEnglish | July 03, 2010 - Officials in the Philippines say a rising number of women and children are being sexually exploited by criminal rings, often through a trusted family member.
But the problem remains invisible because of its clandestine and underground nature, with victims often keeping silent because they are ashamed.
Poverty and poor education contribute greatly to the problem, officials say.
Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports.
