PH sustains campaign vs. human trafficking despite pandemic

MANILA – The Philippine government has sustained its drive against human trafficking even during the pandemic, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) reported Wednesday.

During the 2021 Pre-SONA virtual presser, CFO Executive Director, Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik, bared that traffickers continue to operate and recruit Filipinos who are desperate to get jobs abroad and this is why coordination and engagement are non-stop between various government agencies.

“Ang ating kampanya against human trafficking ay mas pinaigting pa natin kasi nakita natin that even during this time of the pandemic hindi po tumitigil ung mga negosyante sa pagre-recruit and even those who are recruiting our kababayan online ay mayroon pa rin (Our campaign against human trafficking has been strengthened because we saw that even during the pandemic illegal recruiters did not stop victimizing our nationals, even online they are still recruiting),” she said.

The government’s action line 1343 against human trafficking is online 24/7, she said.

The country’s campaign against trafficking has been recognized by no less than the United States government after it retained its Tier 1 status in the State Department’s 2021 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.

Although there are several areas it said the country needs to address, the status indicates that Manila “fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking” and that it demonstrates “serious and sustained efforts” during the reporting period.

The report recognized the prosecution of more traffickers than the previous reporting period, the increase in the number of prosecutors assigned to anti-trafficking task forces and the number of staff to its anti-trafficking coordination body, the opening of a specialized shelter and one-stop service center in Manila; and assistance to more than 1,000 TIP victims.

It also took note of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) aid to some 2,575 potential victims of human trafficking in 2020, “a significant decrease” compared to previous cases totaling 3,581 victims of trafficking and 4,479 victims of illegal recruitment.

In February 2021, at least 34 trafficking victims staying at the Philippine Embassy shelter were also repatriated from Syria. As of June 2021, the shelter in Syria has been emptied and all wards were repatriated.

Last week, the Embassy said the affidavits these Filipinas provided have led to the “big fish” arrest of Hajja Paksa, the alleged mastermind behind their illegal recruitment from Zamboanga to Syria.

When the victims were interviewed by the Embassy personnel and shown the photos of Hajja Paksa, they confirmed that this was the same person engaged in the modus operandi of illegally recruiting and trafficking women from Zamboanga to Syria.

The US State Department report recognized the repatriation of 327,511 Filipino workers who had lost their jobs or had not been paid wages as a result of the pandemic.

On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola assured that the DFA “will continue chartering flights until we are able to bring everyone home.”

In the United Arab Emirates alone, she said three repatriation flights are scheduled on July 17, 27 and 30, all shouldered by the government.