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US ENVOY SAYS:

40% of foreign male tourists come to Philippines for sex

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MANILA, Philippines—While the Philippines is a model for other countries in combating human trafficking, a lot still remains to be done because up to “40 percent” of  foreign male tourists visiting the country come here primarily for sex, according to US Ambassador to Manila Harry Thomas Jr.

Thomas said on Thursday morning that while the Philippines government secured a “record number of 25 convictions” against human traffickers, many problems have persisted in the fight against the criminal syndicates trafficking people.

“I estimate that maybe up to 40 percent of foreign men who come here come for sexual tourism and that is unacceptable,” Thomas said at a judicial conference on human trafficking.

He added that he had also told President Benigno Aquino and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that should an American be arrested for human trafficking, the US embassy in Manila would even assist in prosecuting them.

“Any of them who are engaged in things that violate the law—whether American or another foreigner—should be prosecuted. That is against human values,” Thomas said.


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Tags: Crime , flesh trade , Global Nation , Human trafficking , prostitution , sexual tourism

  • Anonymous

    lagi na lang ba huli sa balita ang gobyerno? or nagbibingihan lang at saka lang umaaksyon kapag napapabalita na sa media. palitan ng mga tamad sa gobyerno. tulad ni pacquiao na sinasabing wala naman daw masyadong ginagawa sa congresso. palibhasa di edukado kaya iniispoon feed pa. haay may magandang pagbabago pa kayang mangyayari sa bansa natin?

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OHOD5EA75DBBUH53UKLRXRK764 Mang Teban

      kababayan, ano ang pinagsasabi mo? gumising ka, kapatid…basahin mo ang artikulo..ano ba yan minumungkahi mo, ha?  ang layo yata, bossing?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sokor-Park/100002605297822 Sokor Park

    Nothing wrong with sex tourism.  Instead of exporting our women abroad and exposing them to danger, it’s better to lure foreigners to our country.  That way, we increase foot traffic, increase potential for additional sales and promote other destinations of the country.  Lonely foreigners can enjoy the sun and the beaches, get a nice tan and get a taste of different amenities of our hospitality industry.  What’s wrong with foreigners getting the biggest bang for the buck?  I say we give it to them all the way!

    • Anonymous

      Are they subject to VAT?

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OHOD5EA75DBBUH53UKLRXRK764 Mang Teban

        @Walter_Peterson:disqus  – you cannot be serious, can you? Well, tell me, how much does it cost to pay the hookers in your country? Do you get a receipt validated by the IRS?

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OHOD5EA75DBBUH53UKLRXRK764 Mang Teban

      another foreigner enjoying the time in the Philippines…and hating himself for not being able to find someone to love him..so he makes fun of others where in his own country, trash talk abounds..and pollution is prevalent inside their heads.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Milo-Go/100000462261793 Milo Go

    Nothing new. It has been going for centuries starting with the Spaniards, then the Americans now it is Asians

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OHOD5EA75DBBUH53UKLRXRK764 Mang Teban

      Can you be more specific about your statement? Centuries, huh? What is not new is your ugly face.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Steven-Zahl/1670371040 Steven Zahl

    Philippines is known for its DIRT and SLEAZE.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OHOD5EA75DBBUH53UKLRXRK764 Mang Teban

      Were you taught by your parents to be disrespectful? From your statement, I can figure you must have come from a country of hookers who use alcohol before and after a customer is served.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OHOD5EA75DBBUH53UKLRXRK764 Mang Teban

    Hello? Do you have to believe every word that an American ambassador says?
    Don’t be imbeciles to take Harry Thomas, Jr.’s estimate of 40% male out for sex tourism in the Philippines to be true or nearly accurate. He must have been thinking of his personal staff in the US embassy.

    I can guess  – one is gay, one is a pedophile, one is a part-time male prostitute, and the other is a sex maniac. See. there are four and the ambassador has ten people in his staff…Okay, there’s your 40%. I am not quite sure where he fits in?

  • Anonymous

    Normal lang sa turista ang maghanap ng sex. Lalo na sa pinas mura  lang sa kanila yan at higit sa lahat magaganda ang mga pinay at mababango, di katulad ng mga kalahi nila, di naghuhugas at di nalliligo dahil giniginaw, kaya ang baho nila hahahahaaha.

  • Anonymous

    40% of foreign male tourists come to Philippines for sex…Why not?

    As the country is hot weather, it goes to the body and heats you up. It is biological.
    Other countries have cold weather, that’s why these people are cold.
    When they come to the Philippines they heat up. So, let the heat hot
    those sagos or else it will cause prostate.

    Sex trade is not new, it is as old when Adam and Eve was created.
    This sex tourism will help the RH bill for women and men alike to be careful in their encounter.
    Besides, unemployment is on the rise, Sex is easy money, one is paid for laying down.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OAQOSFJK3TN2IDOEGFUXIFMMVU Bading

    “Hey
    foreign tourists, if you need a sex worker look for Mercedes , she’s 
    nice and a branded prostitute who don’t give up for as long as you have
    enough cash to pay her. She’s a hungry gold and silver digger too. She
    works in a prestigious company .”  You know, I really pity our very own
    country, the Filipino people who deserve to be called FILIPINO, that
    many foreign tourists branded a Filipina, a housemaid or a prostitute. They
    look at the Filipina as a little brown race species to be belittled and
    abused , is this not an act of barbaric racism?  Who’s going to be
    blamed, the government, the Filipino people, the western mentality, or  
    a rude mentality. Or are there such a thing, that if there’s no
    prostitute there’s no sex maniac and if there’s no sex maniac  there’s 
    no prostitute. Anywhere you go, whether in a private/public office
    or in a public place, abroad or locally, there is always a prostitute or
    a sex maniac.  So many families/couples are broken because of this
    kind of abnormal behavior , or an  act of a devil,  Wives and Children
    usually are the victims and suffer a lot.  That’s why almost everyday,
    we read/hear bad  news from many parts of the country here and abroad
    about instant killing /suicide in relation to  illicit affair ,
    unfaithful husband/wife, jealousy, or battered wife syndrome etc.  etc. 
    How can we help to minimize this kind of problems that many families
    are suffering today.  To whom shall they turn to??? Let’s be a GOD
    fearing Philippines , and condemn all the works of the devil. Don’t let
    the devil ruin the foundation of a Filipino family.

  • Anonymous

    US should not had taken Philippines off from the  second tier Human Trafficking Watchlist. There is more human trafficking specially on the minors in Philippines than its neighboring countries.



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