Press Release
July 30, 2021

Gatchalian reiterates need to end human trafficking amid World Day Against Trafficking

Amid the observation of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons today, July 30, Senator Win Gatchalian pressed the urgency of strengthening the country's laws to combat different forms of trafficking.

"Sa mga nalalabing buwan ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, mahalagang tutukan natin ang pagsugpo sa human trafficking, lalo na't marami sa mga kabataan natin ang nanganganib maging biktima nito," said Gatchalian.

While the United States Department of State's 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report retains the Philippines' Tier 1 status for meeting the minimum standards on the elimination of trafficking, Gatchalian pointed out the vulnerability of children to trafficking crimes.

According to the State Department's report, most of the 73 traffickers convicted by the government under the anti-trafficking act and related laws subjected children to sex trafficking, 25 of which sexually exploited children online. Out of the 1,205 trafficking victims served by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 157 were victims of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).

In 2020, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime received 1.29 million Cybertipline reports of alleged OSEC cases from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the United States. This is thrice the 426,000 reported in 2019. Gatchalian also recalled how some students resorted to the online selling of lewd images and videos to raise funds for distance learning.

Following the surge of suspicious transactions linked to OSEC, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles earlier this year reported that the President called on Congress to amend trafficking laws to exempt traffickers from the Anti-Wiretapping Law. The Palace official added that amendments to trafficking laws should impose obligations on internet service providers (ISPs) and tourism establishments.

Last year, 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 provides that when it comes to cases involving child trafficking, regional trial courts can authorize law enforcers to conduct surveillance and record communications and information involving persons charged with or suspected of trafficking.

# # #

Mensahe ni Gatchalian sa 'World Day Against Trafficking': human trafficking dapat sugpuin

Sa paggunita ngayong araw ng World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, binigyang diin ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang kahalagahan ng pagpapatatag sa mga batas ng bansa upang masugpo ang iba't ibang mga anyo ng human trafficking.

"Sa mga nalalabing buwan ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, mahalagang tutukan natin ang pagsugpo sa human trafficking, lalo na't marami sa mga kabataan natin ang nanganganib maging biktima nito," ani Gatchalian.

Nananatili ang "Tier 1" status ng Pilipinas sa 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report ng United States Department of State. Ibig sabihin, naipapatupad ng Pilipinas ang mga minimum standards upang masugpo ang human trafficking. Sa kabila nito, patuloy ang banta ng human trafficking sa kaligtasan ng mga kabataan sa bansa.

Ayon sa ulat ng State Department, karamihan sa pitumpu't tatlong (73) traffickers na na-convict ng pamahalaan sa ilalim ng anti-trafficking act at kaugnay na mga batas ay sangkot sa sex trafficking ng mga kabataan. Dalawampu't lima (25) sa mga traffickers na ito ay nang-abuso ng mga kabataan gamit ang internet. Sa mahigit isang libo at dalawang daang (1,205) mga biktima ng trafficking na tinulungan ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), mahigit isang daan at limampu (157) ang biktima ng online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).

Matatandaang noong 2020 ay nakatanggap ang Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime ng mahigit 1.2 milyong Cybertipline reports mula sa National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ng Estados Unidos. Ito ay mas mataas ng tatlong beses sa mahigit apat na raang libong (426,000) naitala noong 2019. Naalala pa nga ni Gatchalian na may mga insidente ng mga mag-aaral na nagbebenta ng mga malalaswang larawan at video para lamang makalikom ng pantustos sa distance learning.

Matapos makita ang pag-akyat ng mga transaksyong may kinalaman sa OSEC, ibinahagi ni Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles ang hiling ng Pangulo sa Kongreso na amyendahan ang mga batas ukol sa trafficking upang ma-exempt ang mga traffickers sa Anti-Wiretapping Law. Ayon pa sa opisyal, dapat ding amyendahan ang mga batas kontra trafficking upang bigyan ng karagdagang mga obligasyon ang mga internet service providers (ISPs) at mga tourism establishments.

Noong nakaraang taon, inihain ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 1794 na layong paigtingin ang Republic Act No. 9208 na una nang na-amyendaha ng Republic Act No. 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012). Isinusulong sa ilalim ng panukalang batas na sa mga kasong may kinalaman sa child trafficking, maaaring bigyang pahintulot ng mga regional trial courts ang mga law enforcers na magsagawa ng surveillance at mag-record ng mga komunikasyon at impormasyong kinasasangkutan ng mga may kaso o pinaghihinalaang sangkot sa trafficking.

# # #

News Latest News Feed