Assistance desks eyed at MCIA

CEBU, Philippines — To strengthen fight against human trafficking, public assistance desks will soon be established at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

The initiative is part of the plan of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the management of MCIA. Both signed a memorandum of agreement Tuesday afternoon to strengthen their ties in the fight against human trafficking.

Through the MOA, the IACAT-MCIAA Task Force was formed in time for the celebration of the International Day Against Trafficking. The task force is “the primary law enforcement agency to undertake surveillance, apprehension, arrest, and investigate of suspected traffickers."

IACAT Head and Cebu City Prosecutor Liceria Rabillas said they plan to ask the management of GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) to provide them spaces intended for the public assistance desks.

At present, Rabillas said the IACAT-MCIA Task Force has an existing office located at the international arrival area of MCIA.

"Guards, airport police, AVSEU (Aviations Security Unit) will man the desks, " Rabillas said in a press conference.

Earlier, MCIAA General Manager Steve Dicdican has assured to IACAT that they will provide a place for the task force and for the rescued victims of trafficking.

According to the MOA, the MCIAA will provide office for the task force, to provide temporary shelter for the rescued victims, as well as to identify and pinpoint areas of the airport where trafficking in person activities may be possible and strengthen security in the identified areas.

"Until they are capable of going back to their respective abode and during the hearing of their related cases here in Cebu," reads the MOA.

Moreover, Rabillas said their anti-human trafficking operations are currently focused on the ground in terms of intercepting traffickers and in rescuing their victims.

She, however, said they already started conducting orientations and seminars for flight attendants in order for them to be aware of the issue and how to respond or deal when the situation happens in the future.

Since Cebu is one of the top tourism destinations and the second commercial city next to Manila, Rabillas said airports in general are "possible exit points" for human traffickers.

Dicdican, for his part, said MCIA can receive information on reported trafficked victims through its security intelligence.

"Through intelligence, we have presence (of security intelligence) at the terminal," he said.

Aside from MCIAA, IACAT also partnered with government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Justice (DOJ), and non-government organization, such as the Children's Legal Bureau, FORGE, and the International Justice Mission in a bid to end the issue of modern-day slavery. (FREEMAN)