Jinggoy says human trafficking tag on RP a slap to GMA

Opposition stalwart Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada yesterday said the statement of the US Embassy in Manila that the Philippines remains as a source and destination for human trafficking is an apparent slap on the face of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

It came as no surprise that the Philippines is still on the Tier 2 list of countries that have failed to comply fully with international anti-human trafficking laws, based on the report by the embassy, Estrada said.

He said the report proved that the Arroyo administration could have undertaken measures to curb human trafficking, but Malacanang had not done enough to meet even the minimum requirements of the anti-trafficking drive.

The US Embassy based its statement on the "2007 Trafficking in Persons" (TIP) report by US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, which showed that the Philippines is still on the Tier 2 list, which includes countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000.

Estrada said the laws prescription of increasing public awareness and vigorously prosecuting suspects that exploit victims as well as prosecuting and convicting public officials who are involved in trafficking is the responsibility of Mrs. Arroyo.

But more than the need or desire to comply with the requirements of the law and of the US, our government should really undertake a no-nonsense measure to combat this social menace of human trafficking that have for a long time been destroying the lives of our citizens and their families, Estrada said.

Estrada recommended to the government to undetake the following:

1. Carry out a pro-active public awareness campaign on human trafficking and how to fight it; 2. Create a body or task force for the arrest and prosecution of violators; and, 3. Devise an efficient, special procedure for speedy, no-nonsense prosecution and punishment of government officials involved in human trafficking.