Government hopes RP will be removed from US watchlist on human trafficking

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said yesterday the Philippines remains hopeful of being removed from the Tier Two Watch List of the US government following the recent convictions of three human traffickers.

At a press conference, Romulo said more convictions are expected in the coming year.

"I’m happy to report that there have been three convictions and with this performance and record, hopefully we would be removed from the Tier Two Watch List ," he said.

The Philippines was demoted to Tier Two Watch List in 2004 due to its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to convict human traffickers.

Although there were prosecutions, the State Department said there had been no convictions in the Philippines under the 2003 Anti-Trafficking law, which needs to be fully implemented.

The Philippines has already passed laws against human trafficking though, until recently, there were no convictions.

"In fact, when you compare the laws passed by the Philippine legislature... to (those of) other countries, I think we should be on top if not in the top two or three," Romulo said.

The US said it needs to see more progress in the prosecution and conviction of human traffickers in the country and had earlier warned that failure to show results could lead to serious sanctions from the US government and the possibility of the country being downgraded to the Tier Three Watch List.

Acting US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission and Political Counselor Scott Bellard earlier said the Philippines could face serious sanctions if the country fails to make serious progress in the prosecution and conviction of human traffickers.

In his remarks during the Philippine National Police (PNP) Seminar and Workshop on Trafficking of Persons on Tuesday, Bellard said the Philippines could end up in the US State Department’s Tier Three category if it remains a source, transit and destination country for trafficked men, women and children.

He said the country needs to comply with minimum standards to eradicate trafficking.

Countries in the Tier Three Watch List are subject to restrictions in US government assistance.

Romulo stressed that the Philippines is very serious about seeking its removal from the US Tier Two Watch List category.

He said the Philippine government will assign a special court to fast-track the trial of more than 400 illegal recruiters arrested by the Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (PAIRTF) to ensure early conviction.

The foreign affairs chief noted that the establishment of the court shows that the government is sincere in combating human trafficking.