US State Dept: Philippines meets ‘minimum standards’ for curbing human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has fully met the “minimum standards” for the elimination of human trafficking cases, according to the “2019 Trafficking in Persons” report of the U.S. Department of State.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the Philippines had increased efforts on reducing human trafficking cases and convicting human trafficking criminals but lacked on investigation and the prosecution of officials accused of committing human trafficking.

“Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not vigorously investigate and prosecute officials allegedly involved in trafficking crimes, consistently criminally prosecute labor traffickers, or increase the availability of specialized protection and assistance services for child victims of sex trafficking or services for male victims,” read the report.

The country’s mental health services, employment training and job placement for human trafficking survivors also remained inadequate, the report added.

In its report, the US State Department recommended that the Philippines increase efforts to “investigate, prosecute and convict perpetrators of trafficking, including complicit officials and labor traffickers.”

The Philippines, according to the US State Department must also boost its support to shelter programs and psycho-social care services for child victims of online sexual exploitation and male trafficking victims.

Forced labor, sex trafficking still an issue

The report also found that forced labor and sex trafficking of men, women and children still posed a significant problem in the Philippines.

Women and children from rural areas, conflict and disaster-affected communities are the most vulnerable victims to sex trafficking and forced labor, the report said.

Men are also victims of forced labor and debt bondage in agriculture, fishing and maritime industries, the report said.

Sex trafficking is also common in tourist destinations such as in Boracay, Angeles City, Olongapo, Puerto Galera, and Surigao.

Increased law enforcement, prevention vs human trafficking

The Philippines, however, enhanced its prosecution against human trafficking cases with stiffer penalties, the report said.

The Philippine government had investigated 407 human trafficking cases in 2018 compared with 488 in 2017.

Penalties for human trafficking imposed from four years to life imprisonment and a fine between P1 million to P2 million.

The Philippine government also intensified its crackdown against human trafficking through the Interagency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) which implemented a case management system for prosecutors working with 16 anti- trafficking task forces to facilitate monitoring of prosecutions. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)