Picking on the US ambassador

From the very beginning, US Ambassador Harry Thomas had pointed out that he was simply citing figures from local organizations when he said that up to 40 percent of male foreigners visit the Philippines for the purpose of engaging in sex tours. But as a career diplomat, the outpouring of indignant criticism probably induced Ambassador Thomas to issue an apology for the statement and put an end to the issue. It would seem, however, that the US diplomat – who said it was “unacceptable” that these foreigners should be visiting this country for sex purposes – got his numbers from the Philippine chapter of the international group ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes).

ECPAT Philippines, which receives funding from the Unicef and says it has been rescuing child prostitutes since 2000, estimates that “40 percent of foreign male visitors coming to the Philippines are sexual exploiters. They can be professionals or ordinary men traveling.” Citing Unicef reports, ECPAT goes on to claim that the Philippines ranks fourth among countries with the highest number of child prostitutes. The Department of Social Welfare and Development pegs the number of street children at 200,000, and about 10 percent are victims of trafficking.

A couple of months ago, accused sex tour promoter Douglas Allen had claimed before a US court that prostitution is legal in the Philippines, saying that women are hired as entertainers and are allowed to go on dates – a remark that raised the hackles of Fil-American journalists who pointed out that prostitution is considered a crime in the Philippines. Unconfirmed reports place the number of Filipina women engaged in the sex trade at 800,000, and a big number of them are underaged. What is even more disturbing is the fact that some parents even act as pimps for their children and coerce the kids to engage in cyber sex. Fortunately, the Senate has seen it fit to pass on final reading the proposed bill penalizing cyber sex and child pornography on the Internet especially since a lot of these abusive and exploitative parents have been getting off scot-free.

Those familiar with Ambassador Thomas say he is deeply concerned with the issue of trafficking and has in fact been tirelessly campaigning for intensified efforts to curb human trafficking. But as is usually the case in any country, statements coming from an American ambassador are always top pick for criticism – most of them coming from the left field.

‘Decking system’ rapped

Every year, over one million Filipinos leave the country to work abroad, with Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East still the biggest employers of OFWs despite the continued turmoil in the region. Aside from educational background, training and work experience, one of the requirements before an OFW can be deployed is a medical certification attesting that the applicant is “fit for employment.” A group of recruiters, however, are denouncing the Department of Health for its alleged failure to prevent the so-called “decking” or referral system where prospective OFWs bound for the Middle East are reportedly directed to undergo medical tests only from clinics accredited by the Gulf Cooperation Council Approved Medical Centers Association or Gamca.

Republic Act 10022 or the amended Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act gives OFWs the freedom to choose the clinic or medical institution that would conduct their medical examinations, but according to sources, overseas workers are required to file medical requests though a website maintained by Gamca, after which they are assigned to a Gamca-approved clinic. Naturally, non-Gamca accredited clinics are complaining, saying this is a violation of RA 10022 aside from the fact that it raises the issue of monopoly or “cartelization.”

Last year, the DOH asked the DFA to intercede on their behalf since a number of embassies have allegedly refused to honor medical examinations from private clinics, even those accredited by the DOH. As a result, only a small number has been getting the business from these medical tests – giving rise to complaints that the DOH has been ineffective in leveling the playing field. Reports also quoted certain DFA officials advising clinic owners to “treat out” embassy officials to get accreditation.

However, sources said the Philippines cannot impose its local laws on foreign embassies, many of whom prefer to see tests conducted by select medical institutions. Besides, health officials from Gulf Cooperation Countries were the ones who created Gamca since results by member-clinics are considered accurate, aside from the fact that their laboratory equipment and testing facilities are computerized – unlike many of the fly-by-night clinics still using very old equipment and less-than-competent technologists, the same source disclosed. In fact, there have been a lot of stories in the past about OFWs being sent home after just a few months because new medical exams conducted in host countries revealed unacceptable findings, such as scarring in the lungs indicative of pulmonary problems.

Cash-rich mobsters

A mob usually connotes violent brawls on the streets, but lately there have been other, more pleasant images attached to the word, such as a “flash mob” where a group of people suddenly emerges in a public place and breaks out in a song or dance number. More recently, however, there’s a kind of mob that has been most welcome to small business owners in the United States – the “cash mob.” The “cash mob” phenomenon is catching on across a number of cities in the US and Europe where “activists” brandish not placards or streamers but their wallets – spending dollars or euros in a locally-owned business. Cash mob organizers harness social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as local radio stations, to mobilize “cash-tivists” for a spending spree of at least $20 each. And unlike blitzkrieg demos, these cash-rich mobsters give advance notice to the lucky business owner to help him prepare for the sudden influx of customers.

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