Hotel and transport industries to help fight human trafficking

CEBU, Philippines - The local hotel and transport industries have committed to help in the campaign against human trafficking in the province.

Representatives of the Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu, as well as bus, shipping and airline operators made the commitment during a meeting with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday.

Aside from the two industries, the Cebu Provincial Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force headed by the governor tapped also tapped the tour and travel operators to help in the campaign.

“The message is eradication. We will not only reduce, we will settle for nothing less but total eradication of human trafficking right here in the province of Cebu,” Garcia said.

Garcia is set to issue an executive order outlining their respective functions as members of the task force.

Initially, the group decided on information dissemination by putting up posters and distributing stickers that stipulate the fight against human trafficking to.

Garcia said there is a lot to accomplish “for as long as you get the active cooperation and collaboration of the different agencies as well as the private sector.”

In the campaign against all forms of criminalities, the provincial government also came up with its own witness protection program to encourage and ensure the safety of potential witnesses who will give their testimony not only during the trial of criminal cases but more importantly during police investigation.

Crimes covered under the program include murder, parricide, homicide, rape with homicide, rape, robbery with homicide, bank robbery, highway robbery, violation of comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 (RA 9165), illegal possession of firearms, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, illegal logging, illegal fishing (RA 8550) and kidnapping.

To qualify, prospective witnesses shall be screened by the members of the witness protection security and benefit committee composed of the Provincial Legal Officer, a representative of the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer and the Chief of the Police Regional Office. — THE FREEMAN