P-Noy urged to sign expanded anti-trafficking law by Dec. 12

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda has urged President Aquino to sign into law the Expanded Anti-trafficking Act by Dec. 12 in time for the commemoration of the International Day Against Trafficking.

Legarda, sponsor of Senate Bill 2625 or the Expanded Anti-trafficking bill, made the call following the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of the Senate and House versions Wednesday night.

“We have done our best in coming up with safeguards to protect our women and children from being victimized by those engaged in anti-trafficking, and it is now up to the President to ensure that this very important measure is passed into law,” she said.

Legarda said the measure would provide added protection not just for victims of trafficking, “but also, to a reasonable extent, law enforcement officers and social workers from harassment suits for lawful acts done in good faith during authorized rescue operations, investigation or prosecution of a case.”

“Enactment into law of the Expanded Anti-trafficking Act will fill the voids in the existing law by expanding the list of acts that promote trafficking, to include an act to destroy or tamper with evidence, to influence witnesses in an investigation, or to utilize one’s public office to impede an investigation or to obstruct the execution of lawful orders,” she explained.

Among the amendments adopted by the bicameral conference committee were the establishment of free legal assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which will be in charge of providing temporary shelter to Filipino victims of trafficking overseas.

The bicameral conference committee also included a provision directing the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to create a blacklist of recruitment agencies, illegal recruiters and persons facing administrative, civil and criminal complaints for trafficking.

The list would also include persons involved in trafficking who have been rescued by the DFA and DOLE, provided that the rescued victims execute an affidavit attesting to the acts committed in violation of the measure.

The blacklist would be posted in conspicuous places in concerned government agencies and shall be updated monthly.