CEBU, Philippines - The number of human trafficking victims that have been rescued has doubled this year compared to last year and this is attributed to more people being aware and concerned about the said problem in the community.
The recent fact sheet released by the International Justice Mission shows that in Metro Cebu alone, there were 98 sex trafficking victims rescued in 2011. This is almost twice than last year’s 54.
IJM Philippines National Director Andrey Sawchenko said in a press conference yesterday, in celebration of the 2011 International Anti-Human Trafficking Day, that more people are aware of human trafficking and this helps mitigate the problem.
During the press conference, the panel confirmed that it would definitely be hard to immediately put a halt to human trafficking, but spreading the information and people being more attentive and concerned with the issue would definitely be a good start.
Sawchenko said that other countries are even close to eradicating human trafficking and this can be done in the country as well, with more collaboration from the society.
He stated as an example, the recent rescue of 15 girls from Bohol, 11 of whom were minors who were told by two recruiters that they will be given stable jobs here in Cebu.
A port security guard, who underwent a human trafficking seminar, became suspicious of the number of young girls traveling together and immediately reported it to his superiors, brought it to the attention of IJM and other departments.
Sawchenko said because of that, the 15 girls were saved because they were to be victims of human trafficking.
He said that action alone is proof that something can be done to have the numbers lowered down to even more.
While the number of victims saved has increased twice to the previous numbers, it also showed that not too many arrests have been made and not too many cases have been filed against the suspects.
Suspects arrested in Metro Cebu through IJM intervention shows 27 in 2011, while there were 20 in 2010.
Suspects charged with violation of RA 9208 in Metro Cebu were 30 in 2011, while 33 in 2010.
But Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane assured that the Department of Justice is really pushing hard in the campaign to stop human trafficking.
Gubalane said that there is no problem with the prosecution, but the concern is when the victims themselves think twice in the filing of cases. He said that rescued victims file affidavits of desistance which can be a problem in the pursuance of the case.
However, he said they don’t stop there since they would want to make sure that justice would be given to the victims.
Cebu City has the most number of RA 9208 prosecutions currently supported by IJM, with 36 cases and the most number of law enforcement operations with 28. Mandaue City has 13 prosecutions with 8 operations conducted while Lapu-lapu has 18 prosecutions and 13 operations.
Jeneth Aquino, a social worker officer from the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. said that it’s hard to set a timeline when human trafficking can be completely stopped especially with problems like poverty increasing but she said that they will not stop being vigilant.
“We will not stop in informing people so that the possible victims would be knowledgeable.”
Liza Tumulak of Lihok Pilipina Foundation Inc., said that they are on the prevention of human trafficking and continue to find means to educate more people.
Tumulak said they continue to disseminate information through a series of seminars that discuss the profiles and modus operandi of human traffickers.
Pureza Tabuac, focal person for anti-trafficking and for the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Mandaue, also shared that on their end, they help the victims get their lives back by re-integrating them with their families and by providing group therapy and one-on-one sessions.
IJM’s Sawchenko said that all these efforts from all the groups greatly add to the success in mitigating the problem.
“Cebu has been recognized nationally for its efforts to stop trafficking. It is because of the participation and commitment of its people that Cebu has earned this recognition.” — (FREEMAN)