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FINALLY,
the government will go after those trafficking in
persons instead of their victims, reported to total
400,000 women and 100,000 children in the Philippines
over the past several years. To this end, it has set up
the Interagency Council Against Trafficking.
This
task force was organized at the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport on Monday, with a ceremony graced
by United States Ambassador Kristie Kenny. Similar
offices in Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Laoag, and other
alternate international airports will also be set up.
Worldwide, the syndicates have victimized an estimated
800,000 men, women, and children in just the year 2004,
according to a United States report.
In the
Philippines, this involves duping Filipinos seeking to
work abroad. They offer documentation, recruitment and
financial help—all for nonexistent visas and work offers
from overseas employers. Their victims end up getting
deported or being illegal migrants at the mercy of
criminal syndicates.
People
involved include not only the people who lure these
workers, but also government personnel especially those
at international airports who help the victims go
through the immigration sieve to be able to leave the
country.
Airport
general manager Alfonso Cusi said the task force’s main
aim would be to hit “very hard” the recruiters and their
accomplices at the airport. He said he and his people
have concluded that corruption is at the core of the
syndicates’ success because illegal recruiters and
traffickers offer huge sums of money to airport
personnel for helping them spirit out the victims.
“I’m
challenging the task force to really enforce the rules,
go after the traffickers, and be kind to the victims,”
said Cusi.
Kenney
said the
United States
had so far contributed $1 million to the antitrafficking
efforts of the Philippines and to various nongovernment
organizations for halfway houses and shelters for the
victims.
On the
prosecution aspects, the US has trained about a thousand
local prosecutors in gathering evidence and prosecuting
traffickers. “This is a crime that affects us all. We’re
trying to share all the knowledge we have, in a small
way, because it’s something that is important to all and
I’d like to think the people concerned in this endeavor
are making a great effort.”
She said
this transnational crime seriously damages all countries
and peoples. “It is a very difficult issue that preys on
the vulnerable members of our society, principally women
and children.” She described it as modern-day slavery.
Kenney
said the problem persists because human trafficking is
one of the three most lucrative illicit activities
today, along with drug and weapons trafficking.
She
asked the NGOs, the media, and the private business
sector to support the effort to finally put a stop to
human trafficking in the Philippines.
So far,
after the enactment of Republic Act 9208, or the
Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, prosecutors
have filed seven cases that resulted in the convictions
of seven suspects. |
