Cebu City ramping up drive vs street exploitation, trafficking

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City is ramping up its campaign against street-level exploitation and suspected human trafficking, following disturbing reports of organized schemes involving children, women, and deceptive solicitation tactics.

Mayor Nestor Archival has already ordered the Anti-Mendicancy Board to identify syndicate-linked operations and coordinate rescue and enforcement efforts across the city.

“This is no longer just about pangayo-pangayo,” Archival said earlier. “We’re seeing patterns that suggest organized exploitation. Some of these could fall under trafficking.”

Among the cases flagged by the mayor’s office is a group referred to as the “sabon gang.”

Individuals reportedly approach motorists with free soap offers.

Once a driver stops, they are asked for identification and then told they are relatives or neighbors—followed by a request for money.

Archival said the tactic is manipulative and possibly coordinated, noting that several complaints have reached City Hall in recent weeks.

Another report described children being dropped off in commercial areas such as JY Square by L300 van.

Their footwear is removed to heighten public sympathy, and women carrying infants are seen roaming the streets, allegedly coached to solicit money.

“Naay mga mama nagda og mga bata, maoy ilang pasuroy-suroyon,” Archival said. “Nidaghan ang mga bata nga masuso sa karsada.”

The mayor disclosed that the city is now working with police to investigate the possibility of syndicate involvement and violations of anti-trafficking laws.

“Naa tay nagpaluyo ani. Ato ning tan-awan. Warning: kung mahibaw-an mo nga naa moy balaod nga gi-violate, dakpon mo namo,” he said.

The Anti-Mendicancy Board has begun mapping hotspots—including reports from Lahug—and classifying street dwellers to determine appropriate interventions.

“Atong gipa-identify asa ni sila nag-puyo, unsa ilang sitwasyon—makililimos lang ba, Badjao, mga buang,” Archival explained. “Ato ning e-quantify aron kahibaw ta asa nato e-butang.”

The city’s first official operation under the board was conducted this week, with Archival personally supervising. This aims to rescue, rehabilitate, and reintegrate individuals exploited on the streets.

Partner non-government organizations have been mobilized to support drug dependents, displaced families, and children in need of care.

Archival also cited recent rescues, including a mendicant from Guadalupe.

“Niadtong miaging bulan, natabangan nato si Jason. Karon, duha na usab ka libod-suroy ang naluwas,” he said. “Sama sa akong gisaad, magtukod ta og inclusive city diin walay mabiyaan.”

The city’s efforts come as national data reveals the staggering scale of child trafficking mostly for online sexual exploitation.

A study by the International Justice Mission (IJM) and the University of Nottingham Rights Lab shared during the 17th Media Seminar in Bacolod City hosted by the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines attended by The Freeman shows an estimate of nearly 500,000 Filipino children were trafficked to produce new child sexual exploitation material (CSEM).

The study found that approximately 1 in every 100 Filipino children had been victimized, with around 250,000 Filipino adults involved in trafficking—often exploiting relatives or children within their communities.

Survivor-led focus groups played a central role in shaping the study’s findings.

Contrary to common assumptions, survivors identified financial gain—not poverty—as the primary motivator behind the abuse.

The IJM report calls for a multi-sectoral response, urging community leaders to condemn trafficking, government agencies to fund deterrence programs, and tech and financial institutions to implement safety-by-design features to prevent payments to offenders.

The Philippines has retained its Tier 1 ranking in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report released by the U.S. Department of State. The ranking—held for 10 consecutive years—indicates that the country continues to meet minimum standards in combating trafficking.

However, the report also flagged persistent gaps: many victims still go unnoticed, labor trafficking remains under-addressed, and officials linked to trafficking are not being held accountable.

The Philippine government had been urged to prosecute traffickers—including complicit officials—more aggressively, improve victim identification and treatment, and stop punishing people who were coerced into criminal activity.

It also called for stronger reintegration services, better support for children, and a national database to track trafficking cases and illegal recruiters.

With the holiday season approaching, Mayor Archival warned of increased mendicancy and trafficking activity in Cebu.

“Daghan na kaayong mga tawo nga ninganhi para mangkwarta. Dili ni tanang tinuod nga nanginahanglan. Some are being used,” he said.

He called on barangays, civic partners, and the public to report suspicious activity and support reintegration efforts.