Gov’t to intensify fight vs human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines — The government has vowed to “add more teeth” into its efforts in going after persons involved in human trafficking and other related offenses.

Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy said there is a need for the country to adopt more proactive measures to gather evidence and prosecute human trafficking despite being the only Southeast Asian nation in the top tier of efforts to combat human trafficking for two consecutive years.

In the 2017 US State Department’s Global Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP) Report, the Philippines retained its Tier 1 rating in the fight against human trafficking.

Cuy over the weekend said the government should fully meet the “minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking” and demonstrate “serious and sustained efforts” during the reporting period. 

“The Philippines did not come short in addressing the prevalence of TIP but this does not mean we should rest on our laurels.

Human trafficking is still happening within our midst. We should never rest (while) this appalling crime against humanity is victimizing our people,” he said.

Cuy said the government, along with other ASEAN sectoral bodies, is working on reinforcing existing mechanisms that allow law enforcers and prosecutors to exchange intelligence information on investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases.

“We will likewise tap the assistance of foreign consular posts, government agencies attached to diplomatic missions and other concerned groups in identifying and locating persons who may be involved in TIP,” he said.

To ensure that law enforcers and prosecutors are equipped to handle TIP cases, capacity building activities should be intensified.