US cites Phl efforts vs human trafficking

WASHINGTON – President Duterte’s administration, under fire from international human rights group for reports of extrajudicial killings in its war on drugs, has demonstrated serious and sustained efforts in fighting human trafficking, the US State Department said.

As a result the Philippines maintained its status in the tier 1 grouping of 36 countries that fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, the department said in its 2017 trafficking in persons (TIP) report released on Tuesday.

Other countries in the premier tier include Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United States.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the Philippines’ intensified efforts have led to the investigation of more than 500 trafficking cases and the arrest of 272 suspects – an 80 percent increase from 2015.

In ceremonies, Tillerson said progress in the Philippines, Afghanistan and Ukraine represented some of the few highlights in the 17th annual TIP report.

“Given the scale of the problem though, all of these countries and many more have much to do. But it is important to note their progress and encourage their continued commitment,” he said.

The US estimates there are 20 million victims of human trafficking.

Also at the ceremony was Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump’s daughter and advisor.

Ending human trafficking is a major foreign policy priority for the Trump administration, she said.

“On a personal level, as a mother, this is much more than a policy priority. It is a clarion call to action in defense of the vulnerable, the abused and the exploited,” she said.

The Philippines was the only one of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations ranked in tier 1.  

Six ASEAN members – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam – were in the tier 2 grouping of countries that do not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking but are making significant efforts to do so.

The other three – Myanmar, Laos and Thailand – were in the tier 2 (watch list) grouping.

It was only last year that the Philippines was promoted to the tier 1 group. Previously it was in tier 2 for five years.

The report said the Philippine government demonstrated serious and sustained efforts in the fight against human trafficking last year by convicting and punishing more traffickers, identifying more victims and expanding its efforts to prevent the trafficking of Filipino migrant workers.

But it did not vigorously investigate and prosecute officials allegedly involved in trafficking crimes or address the backlog of trafficking cases in the courts.

The report suggested the government increase the availability of specialized comprehensive services that address the specific needs of trafficking victims and also step up efforts to investigate and prosecute officials for trafficking and trafficking-related offenses.

It said from April 1 to Dec. 31 last year, authorities investigated 553 suspected trafficking cases and arrested 272 suspects, compared with 329 cases investigated in 2015 and the arrest of 151 suspects. 

Fifty-five traffickers were convicted last year, from 42 in 2015.

Victims’ testimonies included in the TIP 2017 report included one from a Filipina identified only as Jasmine.

She said she was recruited – along with a dozen other girls from her small village – by someone identified as Mariel who promised her jobs at an internet cafe in Manila.  

At the port, however, a security guard became suspicious of the large group and upon questioning, officials later learned there had never been any internet cafe jobs and Mariel had planned to force the girls to work in commercial sex by advertising them online.

Of 187 countries evaluated in the latest TIP report, 80 countries are in tier 2 and 45 are in the tier 2 watch list grouping.

Twenty-three countries are in tier 3 and can be barred from receiving non-humanitarian, non-trade related foreign assistance. China is included in tier 3.

Three others are grouped under special cases.  

– With Mayen Jaymalin, Pia Lee-Brago