Binay: Phl to remain in Tier 2 list in trafficking report

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay expects the Philippines to remain in the Tier 2 list when the US Department of State releases its annual Global Trafficking in Persons (GTIP) report next month.

“Our goal has always been to be upgraded to Tier 1 status but even if we don’t make it this year, given the number of trafficking-related convictions we had since the latest GTIP report was released, we are confident that we will remain in the Tier 2 list,” Binay, presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) concerns and chairman emeritus of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), said.

Countries in Tier 1 status are those that fully comply with the minimum requirements of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of the United States, while those in Tier 2 do not meet the minimum requirements but are making significant effort.

Based on the data submitted to GTIP, there were 12 trafficking-related convictions with 18 persons convicted from April to December 2011, while there were five convictions with 12 persons convicted from January to April this year.

“To give you an idea of just how significant the increase is, compare the 39 convictions we have accumulated in the past 22 months to the 29 convictions the previous administration had from 2005 to June 2010,” Binay noted.

The Philippines was elevated to Tier 2 status in the GTIP report released in June last year after having been in the Tier 2 watch-list status from 2009 to 2010.

Binay credited the increase in trafficking-related convictions to the creation of the IACAT Operations Center (OpCen) and closer coordination with non-government organizations (NGOs).

“The IACAT OpCen and our ties with NGOs have been vital to the increase in the number of trafficking cases filed and the number of convictions we secured,” he explained.

Binay added that during the latest IACAT OpCen operation last April 25, they were able to rescue four women and three minors who were offering sexual services in two KTV bars in Tondo, Manila.

“We now have the owners of the Boholano and Therese/Nakamura-Sakamura KTV bars in custody and cases for violation of RA 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) and RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) as amended are now being prepared to be filed against them,” he said.