US Ambassador presses continued fight vs trafficking
CARMEL MATUS, INQUIRER.NET (SEPTEMBER 19, 2011)
CEBU City—US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. on Friday called for a continued fight against human trafficking in the Philippines.
“The US government will continue to work with all of you and with the Philippine government to combat this menace. We will continue to be your strong ally in this fight,” the ambassador said. Read more
Sangguniang Kabataan members in Cebu will form watch groups in schools, churches and communities as well as conduct awareness campaigns against human trafficking.
This developed after the SK leaders of Cebu province signed a covenant signifying their commitment to combat human trafficking at the Cebu International Convention Center yesterday. Read more
CEBU CITY -- Young leaders in Cebu province signed a covenant Friday to help prevent and report human trafficking cases in their cities and towns.
"We will continue to be your strong ally in this fight," said United States Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr., who joined the youth at the Cebu International Convention Center. Read more
CEBU, Philippines - United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas, Jr. has assured the continuing support of their government to the fight against human trafficking as he challenged the Cebuano youth to implement aggressive measures.
Thomas and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia led the signing of commitment during the launching of the Movement of Anti-Trafficking Advocates (MATA) at the Cebu International Convention Center yesterday. Read more
United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. is slated to visit Cebu this Thursday to sign an agreement with Cebu province officials on combatting human trafficking.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia made the announcement about Thomas’ visit in her regular press conference last week. Read more
Gov't, civil society ink agreement on crusade against human trafficking in Cebu
AMOR SALUDAR, PIA.GOV.PH (AUGUST 28, 2011)
CEBU CITY August 28 (PIA) -- Fifteen government agencies and 14 private organizations signed a memorandum of agreement recently to mark their full support on the crusade against human trafficking in Cebu Province and to effectively implement the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 or RA-9208.
Governor of Cebu Gwendolyn Garcia led the signing of the agreement. Read more
Regional Director Exequiel Sarcaugaof the Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas recently turned over a project grant of P524,000 to the 38 “paaling” fishing victims from Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
Paaling is a deep-sea compressor fishing activity where fishermen, using crude equipment, pound coral reefs to scare and drive fish into a net laid out on the ocean floor. Read more
KARLON N. RAMA and OSCAR PINEDA, SUN STAR CEBU (AUG. 26, 2011)
Eight “tipsters” received P24,000 from the Cebu Provincial Government as reward for providing information that led to the arrest of suspected human traffickers.
They were recipients of the Capitol’s Witness Protection and Tipster Program.
Yesterday’s turnover was the highlight of the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) among 31 organizations, government line agencies and the porters’ association to enforce Republic Act (RA) 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. Read more
DOLE-7 provides P.5M project fund to 38 “paaling” fishing victims
JENNIFER CATAN-TILOS, PIA.GOV.PH (AUGUST 24, 2011)
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 24 (PIA) -- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga of Central Visayas has turned over a project grant of P524,000 to the 38 “paaling” fishing victims from Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
Paaling The DOLE handed over the funding assistance through the Visayan Forum recently at the DOLE field office in Dumaguete City. Read more
The University of the Philippines Cebu Gender and Development Office received an invitation from Lihok Filipina Foundation Executive Director Teresa Banaynal-Fernandez to join the two-day organization of a Community Based Advocacy and Monitoring Group. The initiating group wanted to realize the “Strengthening of Civil Society in Eliminating Violence Against Children in the Philippines.” Read more
DILG lauds PCTC rescue of 58 human trafficking victims
JEROME CARLO R. PAUNAN, PIA.GOV.PH (AUGUST 21, 2011)
MANILA, Aug. 21 (PIA) -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo lauded the agents of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes (PCTC) after rescuing 58 potential victims of human trafficking.
According to Robredo, 41 of those rescued were women during separate operations in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay and in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi recently. Read more
The 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army recently launched a “Bayanihan Para sa Kabataan” project that provided two educational tours for grade school children from hinterland barangays in Negros Oriental.
The Rotary Mother Club and Visayan Forum pledged to donate P5,000 to purchase slippers and school supplies, respectively, while the ONCAN ways and means committee will take care of food and other requirements, the press release said. Read more
Ten would be trafficking victims arrive in Zamboanga
ZAMBOANGA TODAY ONLINE (AUGUST 18, 2011)
Another batch of ten young women have been picked up yesterday morning by a composite team of the Anti Human Trafficking Task Force from a vessel from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi that docked at the local wharf, this city.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) investigator Chief Insp. Alex Lorenzo disclosed that the women were recovered by members of the Organized Police Action Center (OPAC) in Bongao and were responsible in sending back the victims to the Zamboanga port under the care of the task force. Read more
MANILA, Philippines - Amendments to the sin taxes, a watered-down Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, and a stricter Human Security Act are 3 of 13 Malacañang-backed measures that will merit attention of Congress in the coming months until the next State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Emerging from a meeting with members of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), President Benigno Aquino III told reporters Congress will have its hands full in the coming months to ensure that the priority measures are passed.
CARLA GOMEZ, THE VISAYAN DAILY STAR (AUGUST 16 2011)
A Zamboanga resident was sentenced yesterday to life imprisonment for being part of a syndicate that recruited a Bacoleña to work as a receptionist at a hotel in Malaysia, where she was instead sold to a pimp and forced into prostitution.
Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 48 Judge Gorgonio Ybañez found Richard Angeles Reyes guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the offense of Illegal Trafficking in Persons and sentenced him to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment, to pay a fine of P2 million, and to indemnify the complainant P100,000 as moral damages. Read more
The inter-agency task force has scored anew in the anti-human trafficking campaign as it rescued Sunday three illegal recruitment victims in Zamboanga City.
Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) Director Edwin de Ocampo said the victims were rescued around 9 a.m. Sunday at a pension house in the village of Canelar, east of the city. Read more
It is good that the campaign against the social sin that is human trafficking is gathering steam and that all sectors are being engaged to fight against commerce in persons.
Enjoining the public through education to fight trafficking yielded a great result in last Friday’s arrest at Cebu’s pier 4 of two Tagalog-speaking women who had in tow 15 Boholanas. Read more
Malaysia to sort out illegal migration issues with ARMM
EDWIN FERNANDEZ & JULIE S. ALIPALA INQUIRER.NET (AUGUST 6, 2011)
COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Kuala Lumpur has agreed in principle to work with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to address the growing problem of illegal migrant workers in Sabah, ARMM officials said. Read more
Council for the Protection of Children reviews thrusts, directions of children's programs
IRMA GUHIT, PIA.GOV.PH (AUGUST 4, 2011)
SORSOGON CITY -- In a meeting held here last week of the Sorsogon Council for the Protection of Children (SPCPC) at the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (PSMO), members of the council reviewed the thrusts and directions of the children's program implemented for the first quarter of 2011 for the province of Sorsogon. Read more
17 human trafficking victims rescued; alleged recruiter arrested
POSTED ON MINDA NEWS (AUGUST 3, 2011)
ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/02 August) – Personnel from the Women and Children Protection Desk of the local police in coordination with the Sea Base Anti-Trafficking Task Force (SBATTF) rescued 17 victims of human trafficking in this city, a top police official announced Tuesday. Read more
Task Force Trafficking intercepts 17 women bound for Malaysia
POSTED ON ZAMBOANGA TODAY ONLINE (AUGUST 2, 2011)
Victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking continues to flourish in Zamboanga City.
Another batch of young women numbering 17 have been rescued yesterday afternoon by a composite team of the Task Force Human Trafficking inside a boarding house at Villa Sta. Maria, this city. Read more
P-Noy tells Cabinet members: Insensitivity irks me
AUREA CALICA, PHILSTAR.COM (JULY 31, 2011)
MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has warned members of his official family about how they would get his ire: “Make me feel you don’t give a damn.”
During Friday night’s tribute to persons and groups who contributed to the country’s fight against human trafficking, the President said he could not take government officials who come to him without knowing anything about the responsibilities they should fulfill as public servants. Read more
Prosecutor Darlene Pajarito is well known at the City Prosecutor’s Office when it comes to prosecuting Human Trafficking cases. She is known to be tough on human traffickers but she has a big heart when it comes to protecting women and children. Read more
Provincial Inter-Agency Anti Child Labor committee reports accomplishments
IRMA A. GUHIT, PIA.GOV.PH (JULY 29, 2011)
SORSOGON CITY, JULY 29 (PIA) -- In a special meeting held here today at Mango Grill, the Sorsogon Provincial Inter-Agency Anti Child Labor Committee (SPIAACLC) and Sagip Batang Mangagawa Quick Action Team reported on the accomplishments and activities conducted for the first two quarters of this year. Read more
Anti-human trafficking heroes given recognition today at Palace
POSTED ON PHILSTAR.COM (JULY 29, 2011)
MANILA, Philippines - The dedicated movers and shakers behind the country’s removal from the US State Department’s Global Human Trafficking watch-list index will be given recognition today at Rizal Hall in Malacañang by President Aquino. Read more
45 trafficked fishermen to get jobs through self-employment assistance from DOLE
POSTED ON DOLE.GOV.PH (JULY 28, 2011)
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said 45 fishermen-workers who were victims of the paaling fishing of PESCA Maharlika Marine Resources, Inc. can start afresh as self-employed workers after they receive the DOLE’s package of livelihood assistance readied for the purpose of enabling them to recover from their nightmarish experience. Read more
Domestic workers and advocates celebrate another first in Philippine history as President Benigno Aquino III called on Congress to prioritize the enactment of a law that will provide fair wages and benefits for domestic workers during his second State of the Nation Address, a press release from the Visayan Forum Foundation said. Read more
With the recent reports that Diamond Star Maricel Soriano allegedly verbally and physically abused her household help, Failon Ngayon takes a look into other cases of the household help being abused and asks why people would do such things. Read more
The government should strictly implement laws to combat the cybersex business, which is spreading like bacteria, a lawyer of the Children’s Legal Bureau said.
“We already have very good laws. They just have to be implemented. There are those who don’t even know that this particular law is existing,” said lawyer Cheryl Cabutihan. Read more
Task Force Human Trafficking rescues 21 more victims
POSTED ON ZAMBOANGA TODAY ONLINE (JULY 18, 2011)
Combined elements of Task Force Human Trafficking rescued yesterday morning 21 young men and women on board a vessel coming from Tawi-Tawi which docked at the local pier, this city. Read more
AMINA RASUL, BUSINESS WOLRD ONLINE (JULY 14, 2011)
For the past two weeks, I have been in Mindanao, working with our Muslim women religious scholars called aleemat or ustadza.
Aleem, ulama or ustadz are the terms used for the male Islamic scholars. We at the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy are implementing a training program on “Empowering the Aleemat, Muslim Women Leaders, and their Communities as Human Rights Defenders,” in partnership with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Magbassa Kita Foundation Inc. (MKFI), and the Visayan Forum. We are supported by the Australian Government’s Human Rights Grants Scheme (HRGS) program. Read more
US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas visited BusinessWorld last week and sat down with the paper’s editors and reporters for a wide-ranging discussion. Here are excerpts:
Mr. Thomas: It’s great to come to BusinessWorld; you have a very unique history in the Philippines... we wanted to engage the media to talk about trafficking in human persons -- it’s a modern-day form of slavery... Read more
It was early dawn last Wednesday when I was still tuned in to CNN where US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave the State Department’s 10-year report about Trafficking in Persons (TIP). Later in an interview with Jim Clancy for CNN’s “Freedom Project”, Sec. Clinton cited the Philippines as one of those nations that have made a lot of progress in this global fight against modern day slavery. Read more
Domestic Workers take center stage in fight for decent work
(POSTED NOVEMBER 8, 2011)
Domestic workers from all over the Philippines will take a leave from work to join government officials and leaders from trade unions,...
more.
APRIL - JUNE 2011
US picks Zambo lawyer as anti-trafficking 'hero'
Philippines boosts efforts to fight human traffickers
Granpa gets PWC security after threats
Katie Ford and Visayan Forum Fight...
more.
