DOJ lauds Phl Tier 2 status on human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima lauded yesterday the Philippines for landing Tier 2 status in the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for the fourth year in a row.

“Having retained for four consecutive years (from 2011 to 2014) our Tier 2 ranking and not being downgraded to Tier 2 Watchlist or, worse, Tier 3, is already a feat, hence, laudable,” she said in a text message yesterday.

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT)chairman said rising convictions in court cases from 30 traffickers in June 2010 to 148 as of this month is a major accomplishment.

“This means that 77.7 percent of the total convictions, or 101 convictions  (with 118 convicted traffickers) were posted during the Aquino administration,” she said.

“We recognize that corruption remains to be among the challenges. But significant headway has been achieved thru the filing of cases against erring personnel.”

Released last June 20, the TIP report said while the Philippines made significant efforts to combat trafficking, the government has not fully complied with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Law enforcement officials’ complicity in human trafficking has remained a problem, and that government corruption enabled traffickers to operate with impunity, the report added.

Corruption at all levels, including Philippine diplomatic missions abroad, has enabled traffickers to undermine government efforts to combat trafficking, the report said.

Among the TIP report’s recommendations were increase availability of shelter and protection resources to specify the needs of trafficking victims, with particular focus on the needs of male victims, increase efforts to hold government officials criminally accountable for trafficking and development of programs aimed at reducing the demand for commercial sex acts, including child sex tourism.

DOJ Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar, who is in charge of IACAT, said the consecutive Tier 2 listing is a testament to the government’s relentless effort to eradicate human trafficking. He said gaining a Tier 1 ranking which would mean that the government has done its duty to protect its citizens's welfare.