EDITORIAL - Write it off entirely

Just two days before it was set to be implemented, the Department of Justice suspended the implementation of the revised guidelines for Filipinos departing the country, as set by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, following concerns raised by senators as well as public outcry.

The DOJ and IACAT made this announcement in a press release yesterday.

“In light of recent concerns raised by our esteemed senators and to address the importance of transparency and public consultation, the Secretary of Justice, Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla, has deemed it necessary to thoroughly clarify the issues surrounding the revised guidelines to both the senators and the public,” the press release read.

It’s a good thing that they are holding this off. The revised guidelines are too harsh, especially on first-time foreign travelers, Overseas Filipino Workers, or ordinary Filipinos of modest means who are required to present papers like signed documents from employers, relatives, and even proof of employment or income.

It was also correctly pointed out by many that the guidelines seem to violate the Constitutionally-guaranteed rights of Filipinos to travel wherever and whenever they wish.

As we also said in an earlier editorial, the guidelines are prone to abuse by power-tripping Immigration agents  and we know there are some of those already-- who may want nothing more than to rain on the parade of others.

The revised guidelines seem to not just assume everyone is a potential trafficking victim instead of being a legitimate traveler, employee, or even immigrant, but then also places the heavy burden of proof of their shoulders. By heavy we mean voluminous requirements and documents travelers don’t usually get, let along bring with them on foreign trips.

The implementation of the revised guidelines shouldn’t just be suspended; the entire thing should be written off entirely. The IACAT should resort to other means to fight human trafficking instead of assuming all foreign travelers are potential victims and burdening them with unnecessary documents.