Asia-Pacific immigration confab slated

Top immigration officials of 38 countries in the Asia-Pacific region will meet in summit early next month in Beijing, China to address the growing problems on human smuggling and transnational crimes.

"Human smuggling and transnational crimes have become a major concern of countries in the Asia-Pacific rim which requires a concerted effort on our part to come up with a common front on how to effectively put a stop to the problems," said Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo.

High on the agenda of the summit, according to Domingo, is to harmonize the laws of the countries involved in the fight against human smuggling and transnational crimes, and an exchange of information that would serve as a basis to stop the smuggling of persons from one country to another.

Domingo said not only the Philippines is affected by the problem on human smuggling and transnational crimes and the problem has caused other countries deep concern that requires immediate solution.

China, Philippines and several other Asian countries have become favorite safe havens of persons sought for major crimes like drug trafficking, human smuggling, trafficking of women and minors and other related crimes because of lack of exchange of information among countries regarding fugitives.

The United States, Canada, and some European countries, on the other hand, are reeling with the influx of undocumented foreigners into their shores.

The summit participants will try to come up with more effective measures on how to deal with human smugglers, and stop the flight of persons involved in transnational crimes.– Rey Arquiza