US envoy slams Philippine record vs human trafficking

US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr. expressed displeasure over the country’s performance in the battle against human trafficking, saying there was no reason for the government to “drink champagne” over the number of cases resolved.

“It behooves me to be honest with you but it does not matter what I say because this is your country. It is not my country. It is your country. We are only here to help,” said Thomas in a speech to judges and prosecutors who gathered here Thursday for a seminar on combating human trafficking.

“This is a global problem. Yes, we have made progress but we cannot drink champagne,” Thomas said.

He was referring to 25 cases involving human trafficking resolved in the country in 2010. In 2009, only 15 cases were resolved.

The cases resolved, he said, showed that the Philippine judiciary was improving.

“These were achieved because of the significant changes in the legal system,” he said, citing the 180 day limit imposed by law for human trafficking cases to be resolved.

“But are we satisfied with 25? Is 25 something that we should be proud about? Is this something to celebrate? That is what I ask. Is it something we have to applaud? It is not. And I am not attacking you because this is a global challenge,” he said.

Before this, Thomas met with officials of the anti-trafficking advocacy group Visayan Forum and some trafficking victims.

“Most of them [victims] were for domestics. But we know that there were some of them who were trafficked for sexual purposes. And we know this evening that some ship that will be coming in will be taking some people,” he said.

The challenge, Thomas said, was for the authorities to make sure that the ports were well guarded and ensure that no one got aboard to end up somewhere else only to be abused.

Thomas said also that the government must address the underlying reasons for human trafficking – lack of livelihood and employment.

He narrated the story told to him by Filipinas who were supposed to go to Bahrain as domestics but were fearful of what they might have to face.

“I asked why and they said they were afraid they might be sexually abused but they have no opportunity to get a job in the Philippines. And we meet people like them every day. Don’t they deserve equal opportunity?” Thomas said.

“So it is up for us, in the United States, to help you with your progress. But we cannot do it alone. We need your help. Your fellow Filipinos need your help. Please help these young boys and girls,” he said.

Justice Adolfo Azcuna, chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy, agreed with the observation made by Thomas.

“Human trafficking is bad. It is a form of human rights violation… I agree that the Philippines must make improvements and we are grateful for the support that they [US government] are extending to the Philippines for us to fight trafficking in humans,” Azcuna said.

Davao Judge Virgina Europa said the judges and the prosecutors who attended the seminar vowed they would help in “curbing or totally eliminating trafficking in persons cases.”

She said trafficking in humans was common in the Southern parts of the country, particularly the island provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi –because of their proximity to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Originally posted 12:30 pm | Friday, June 17th, 2011