MANILA: “Rampant corruption” in all government levels weakened efforts against human trafficking in the Philippines, which remains non-compliant to international anti-trafficking standards, a US report said.
In the Trafficking in Persons Report 2013 of the Department of State, the Philippines retained its Tier 2 status, which is given to countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s minimum standards but are but are making significant efforts to do so.
“The Philippines is a source country and, to a much lesser extent, a destination and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour,” the report said.
It noted that a significant number of Filipino migrants — professionals and domestic workers — suffer physical and sexual abuse while human trafficking within the country also remains a significant problem. “People are trafficked from rural areas to urban centres including Manila, Cebu, the city of Angeles, and increasingly cities in Mindanao, as well as within other urban areas and tourist destinations such as Boracay, Olongapo, Puerta Galera, and Surigao,” the report explained.
The report said corruption at all levels of government enables traffickers to prosper, who are at times partnered with erring authorities. Officials in government units and agencies assigned to enforce laws against human trafficking reportedly permitted trafficking offenders to conduct illegal activities, allowed traffickers to escape during raids, extorted bribes, facilitated illegal departures for overseas workers, and accepted payments or sexual services from establishments known to traffic women and children.
Rampant corruption enables traffickers and undermines efforts to combat trafficking, the said. It cited notable efforts from the Philippine government such as amending anti-trafficking measures and the provision of protection to the victims. However, these efforts still fall short.
“[The Philippines] did not, however, make significant progress in addressing the underlying weaknesses in its judicial system, which stymied efforts to hold trafficking offenders accountable,” it said. Excessive length of trials and lack of public prosecutors dedicated to trafficking cases also continue to limit progress, according to the report. It recommended the improvement of the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of both labour and sex trafficking offenders and the bolstering of the anti-trafficking training for police recruits, front-line officers, and police investigators.
The report also suggested increase the funding for anti-trafficking programmes within local anti-trafficking member agencies and address the significant backlog of trafficking cases filed with the Department of Justice and in various local courts.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, Chairman Emeritus of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, welcomed the report.
“Being in Tier 2 status means that we are making significant efforts to comply with the requirements of the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act,” he said.
The Philippine star
