FBI group launches 24/7 human trafficking watch

MANILA, Philippines -  The Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates (FBINAA) plans to launch a 24-hour, seven days a week worldwide human trafficking center that would help curb the trafficking of persons.

FBINAA Inc. president Matt Raia, during last Monday’s opening of the FBINAA 14th Asia-Pacific Training Conference 2011 held at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City, said that the group’s program for the coming years includes cooperation and leadership with United Nations Human Trafficking Unit, International Police, and other law enforcement agencies worldwide to launch a new human trafficking center through the FBINAA.

The plan would create a round-the-clock worldwide human trafficking coordination center.

“We are excited about this opportunity and I hope that you will join us in this effort,” Raia said.

Raia said the expectations and efforts have been tremendous, have shown great success, and that he is sure there is additional success to follow.

“I would like to recognize the efforts of our national office staff. Special thank you to the Manila host committee under the guidance of National Bureau of Investigation Director Magtanggol Gatdula, a graduate of the 161st session and president of the Asia-Pacific chapter. We all know that there is a tremendous number of hardworking individuals behind the scenes that make these conferences possible,” said Raia.

He said retraining such as this helps to achieve goals and upgrade professional skills of the over 18,000 FBINAA members.

“We are the strongest law enforcement leaders’ network in the world. And we intend to continue on that path of exceptional world leadership,” he said.

Since its inception in 1935, over 45,000 law enforcement professionals have graduated from the FBI National Academy, representing over 165 countries throughout the world.

Gatdula said this was the first time that the FBINAA conference was held in the Philippines.

During the FBINAA training conference, they have the opportunity as individual nations to make specific and concrete actions, he said.

Gatdula said that the NBI now sends more agents to the training conference.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. extended a special welcome to law enforcement officers and partners from the Asia Pacific region and the United States to participate in this important security conference.

“Since 1968 over 140 law enforcement professionals from the NBI and the PNP have successfully graduated from the FBI national academy, and returned to their organization to share the knowledge and the global relationships,” said Thomas.

Vice President Jejomar Binay said vigilance is needed against security threats facing countries in the Asia Pacific region.

“If we want to defend the things we believe in – liberty, free will, and mutual respect – we must not only prepare for the worst, we must prepare for all possible contingencies,” Binay said.

NBI rescues 54 victims

Binay lauded the NBI and the Blas F. Ople Center for the rescue of 54 female victims of human trafficking, including a 16-year-old girl.

Binay, also presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) concerns and chairman of the Task Force on Anti-illegal Recruitment, said the victims were bound for Syria and Qatar after they were recruited under anomalous circumstances.

“I am glad that we were able to prevent our kababayans from leaving our country and falling victim to illegal recruitment,” Binay said.

He urged the public to be vigilant against human trafficking.

Binay said the NBI, with the cooperation of the Ople Center, conducted the rescue operations at around 11 a.m. yesterday at a house in Singalong, Manila where the women slept on wooden floors while they waited for their flights for abroad.

He said the victims pointed to a Syrian businessman as the financier and head of the syndicate.

The women were recruited by different agents in the Visayas and Mindanao and they were promised jobs as domestic helpers with a monthly salary of $200, which violates government’s policy of $400 minimum wage for Filipino housemaids or household service workers (HSWs) abroad.

The victims said some of them were supposed to work as HSWs in Qatar while the others were bound for Syria where there is a prevailing deployment ban due to armed conflict in that country.

“Under these conditions, we cannot allow them to leave the country. It is our duty to ensure and protect their well-being,” Binay said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano