U.S. backs RP's anti-child trafficking efforts

PEOPLE'S TONIGHT
By Renato G. Quilicol
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2003

United States Ambassador Francis Ricciardone yesterday pledged full support to local campaigns against child trafficking.

Ricciardone made the vow during a meeting yesterday in Port Area, Manila, with leaders of Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc., (VFF) and its counterparts in the government and private sector.

Ricciardone reminded the NGO leaders that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has already expressed in his speech last June that the American government believes that human trafficking is morally unacceptable.

"The United States stands prepared to help countries that demonstrate determined commitment to strengthen their domestic capacities for combating child trafficking." Ricciardone said.

The U.S. Ambassador also visited yesterday the Philippine Ports Authority's (PPA) Bahay Silungan sa Daungan or the Port Halfway House project at Pier 8, Tondo.

Ricciardone met a 15 year-old girl form the Visayas who was rescued from a child trafficking syndicate.

The girl told the U.S. envoy that she was lured into prostitution by someone who promised to give her a job here in Manila.

"Sinabi sa akin ng recruiter na ipapasok daw ako ng magandang trabaho sa Maynila. Tapos dinala ako sa isang bahay-aliwan at ibinenta," the girl narrated.

PPA built the Halfway House for abused children and women through the help of the WG&A Superferry and the VFF.