NBI anti-human trafficking division eyes wider scope

Syndicates utilizing children to beg in the streets of Metro Manila would now be included in the Anti-Human Trafficking Division-National Bureau of Investigation (AHTRAD-NBI) order of battle.

Head Agent Ferdinand Lavin, newly installed AHTRAD-NBI chief, is eyeing a wider scope of the unit and could soon conduct operations against syndicates employing street children, saying this should be classified under human trafficking.

"We will broaden the scope of our campaign against human trafficking activities. We will coordinate with the NBI’s Violence Against Women and Children Division and the Department of Social Welfare and Development," Lavin said.

He plans to conduct a "case test" and file appropriate charges against syndicates. Laws on human trafficking also address the concerns of minors and women.

"By exposing them to the criminal activities, the minds of innocent children are corrupted at a very young age. These street children knock on the windows of vehicles begging for alms. I would like to believe that it is a form of trafficking because it is a form of involuntary servitude. They are gathered in one place and brought to busy streets and are compelled to beg for alms," the NBI official said.

Lavin, who assumed the new position last Monday in compliance with the directive of NBI Acting Director Nestor Mantaring, said the AHTRAD’s operations are concentrated on illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

He noted, however, that the concept of human trafficking has been limited to Filipinas who have been promised decent work abroad but end up as prostitutes.

The US government’s annual "Trafficking in Persons" report recently removed the Philippines from its watchlist of countries with serious human trafficking problems and classified it under countries that are making significant efforts to combat the problem.

In the report, which assessed the performance of 158 countries, the Philippines was promoted to Tier 2 along with 78 other countries.

Former AHTRAD chief Head Agent Romulo Asis earlier said that more and more Filipinos victimized by human traffickers have learned to trust the government and to seek assistance. S

Statistics provided by the NBI-AHTRAD showed that in year 2004, they received a total of 30 cases, of which 16 were recommended for closure, eight for prosecution, three for inquest while another three are still being investigated.

The figure went up to 75 cases in 2005, of which 15 were recommended for closure, eight for prosecution, nine for inquest while the bulk 43 cases were still being investigated.