NGO lauds Bureau of Immigration for its effort to stop human smuggling

MANILA, Philippines - A non-government organization pushing for the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers has lauded the reforms implemented by Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, especially his intensified campaign against human trafficking.

Former Labor Undersecretary Susan Ople, president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, praised Libanan for his efforts and programs that have greatly reduced the number of would-be-victims by human trafficking syndicates operating in the country.

“I believe in Commissioner Libanan’s desire to institute reforms. It was only during his watch that a BI agent has been placed under investigation for collusion in the trafficking of women,” said Ople, daughter of the late senator and Labor Secretary Blas F. Ople.

Under Libanan’s leadership, Ople said that non-government organizations such as the BFO Policy Center have been given the chance to help, especially on the issue of human trafficking.

Ople had a dialogue with Libanan where she personally brought victims of human trafficking. Libanan instantly ordered the relief of some BI personnel who were allegedly in cahoots with a syndicate.

Ople, however, clarified that human trafficking is a colossal job for one agency like the immigration bureau to tackle. Concerned government offices should take up a united front against it, especially that syndicates have become more aggressive in efforts to lure more victims to work abroad, Ople said.

Aside from BI, Ople said the fight against human trafficking should be a team effort spearheaded by the Department of Labor, Philippine Overseas Employment Association, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and other law enforcement agencies.

Recently, BI’s efforts against human trafficking have been acknowledged by former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza Cabral, who now heads the Department of Health.

Under Libanan’s leadership, the agency has implemented a tight watch and profiling of possible victims of human trafficking and “tourist workers”, or undocumented overseas Filipino workers posing as tourists.

Foremost of this activities is the creation of the BI national operations center which operates 24 hours a day and monitors the bureau’s activities in various airports and sub-ports to prevent any human trafficking attempt.

Proving that there is no let-up in its campaign against human trafficking, in 2009, the BI offloaded a total of 4,517 passengers with incomplete or tampered travel documents, most of them Filipinos who are at high risk of being victims of human trafficking.