Press Release
July 11, 2021

PH retains 'Tier 1' status; Gatchalian bats anew for stronger crackdown on human trafficking

Though the Philippines has retained its 'Tier 1 Status' by the U.S. State Department for meeting the minimum standards on the elimination of trafficking, Senator Win Gatchalian reiterated the need for a stronger government crackdown on all forms of human trafficking, including the online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).

The U.S. State Department's 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report for the Philippines revealed that the government convicted 73 traffickers under the anti-trafficking act and related laws, most of which subjected children to sex trafficking, including 25 who sexually exploited children online. The report said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) served 1,205 trafficking victims, including 157 victims of OSEC. The report also identified other challenges such as slow moving courts, the need for additional training on handling digital evidence in hearings and trials, and too few prosecutors for timely prosecution of trafficking crimes.

During the lockdowns from March to May 2020, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) reported receiving a 264 percent increase in Cybertipline reports of alleged OSEC cases compared to the same period in 2019. Gatchalian also recalled instances when some students resorted to selling lewd videos and images to raise funds for distance learning.

In 2020, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 1794, which strengthens Republic Act No. 9208 as amended by Republic Act No. 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012). The proposed measure seeks to provide standards and guidelines on surveillance, interception, investigation, and prosecution of different forms of human trafficking, including sexual exploitation, prostitution, and pornography.

The proposed measure provides that in cases of child trafficking and when law enforcers have established a crime of trafficking was committed, is being plotted, or taking place, regional trial courts can authorize law enforcers to conduct surveillance and record communications.

Internet service providers (ISPs) and tourism-oriented establishments are also given responsibilities under this proposed measure. ISPs are mandated to block and filter any access to child pornography. Meanwhile, tourism-oriented establishments are tasked to train their staff to recognize signs of human trafficking crimes so they can report them to law enforcement agencies.

"Sa pamamagitan ng isinusulong nating batas na layong patatagin ang ating mga batas kontra human trafficking, hangad nating maligtas ang ating mga kabataan sa ganitong uri ng pang-aabuso at karahasan," said Gatchalian.

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Gatchalian: pagsugpo sa human trafficking lalo pang paigtingin

Bagama't napanatili ng Pilipinas ang "Tier 1" na status mula sa U.S. State Department para sa pagpapatupad ng minimum standards sa pagsugpo sa human trafficking, iginiit ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang pangangailangan ng mas maigting na kampanya laban sa lahat ng anyo ng human trafficking, kabilang na ang online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).

Ayon sa 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report ng U.S. State Department para sa Pilipinas, may nahatulang higit pitumpu (73) sa ilalim ng anti-trafficking act at mga kaugnay na batas. Karamihan sa mga ito ay nahuling nagsagawa ng sex trafficking sa mga bata, kabilang ang dalawampu't limang (25) nang-abuso ng mga bata gamit ang internet. Dagdag ng ulat, may mahigit isang libong (1,205) mga biktima ang nabigyan na ng tulong ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), kabilang ang mahigit isang daan at limampung (157) biktima ng OSEC.

Pagdating naman sa mabisang pagsugpo sa human trafficking, ilan sa mga natukoy ng ulat na hamon ay ang mabagal na pag-usad ng mga kaso sa korte, ang pangangailangan ng karagdagang pagsasanay sa paghahawak ng digital evidence sa mga pagdinig, at kakulangan ng mga prosecutor para sa mabilis na pag-uusig ng mga kaso.

Matatandaan na noong Marso hanggang Mayo 2020, iniulat ng Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) na kung ihahambing sa parehong mga petsa noong 2019, mas mataas ng halos tatlong daang (264) porsyento ang mga natanggap nitong Cybertipline reports ng mga pinaghihinalaang kaso ng OSEC. Noong isang taon din, may mga ulat na ang ilang mga mag-aaral at nagbebenta ng malalaswang mga larawan at mga video para makalikom ng pantustos sa distance learning.

Noong nakaraang taon ay inihain ni Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 1794 na naglalayong palakasin ang Republic Act No. 9208 na una nang naamyendahan ng Republic Act No. 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012). Nais ng panukalang batas na magbigay ng mga pamantayan sa mga imbestigasyon, pagharang, at pag-uusig sa iba't ibang anyo ng human trafficking, kabilang ang pang-aabusong sekswal, prostitusyon, at pornograpiya.

Isinusulong ng naturang panukala na sa mga kaso ng child trafficking at kung mapapatunayan ng mga law enforcers na may nagawang krimen ng trafficking, maaaring pahintulutan ng mga regional trial court ang pagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon at pag-record sa mga komunikasyon.

Bibigyan din ng mandato ang mga internet service providers (ISPs) at tourism-oriented establishments. Magiging responsibilidad ng mga ISPs ang pagharang sa anumang uri ng child pornography. Ang mga tourism-oriented establishments naman ay dapat magsagawa ng mga pagsasanay para sa kanilang mga staff para mas maging alerto sila sa mga posibleng senyales ng human trafficking.

"Sa pamamagitan ng isinusulong nating batas na layong magpapatatag pa sa mga batas kontra human trafficking, hangad nating mailigtas ang ating mga kabataan sa ganitong uri ng pang-aabuso at karahasan," ayon kay Gatchalian.

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