Source: Public Relations and Information Department

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Yap bats for stiffer penalties for government officials involved in trafficking of persons
30 July 2010 08:46:10 AM
Writer: Office of Rep. Susan A. Yap

In line with recent reports that the US State Department pronounced the Philippines as remaining in Tier 2 watch list of countries whose governments have failed to improve efforts against human trafficking, Rep. Susan A. Yap (2nd District of Tarlac) filed House Bill 1705, which seeks the imposition of stiffer penalties for government officials involved in human trafficking.

The proposed measure is intended to put a stop to the long-time practice of collusion and corruption with government officials to facilitate the trafficking of persons.

According to Yap, "traffickers clandestinely organize their transport operations through different ports and land routes across the country. Many government officials fall prey to bribes and collude with these traffickers and syndicates, engaging themselves in airport escorting scheme or pre-arranged passage for trafficking victims."

"Although the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has already instituted a number of measures in the airports to prevent these corrupt practices, incidents of human trafficking are still high," said Yap.

Based on DSWD data, 2,298 cases of human trafficking were reported from 2003 up to the first quarter of 2010. Not all incidents are documented because victims are usually afraid of their traffickers.

Trafficking victims, mostly women and children, are induced by promises of decent jobs and better opportunities in foreign countries and provinces. However, they find themselves in forced labor and sexual exploitation.

Aside from immigration and police officers, other officers who may be susceptible to collusion with syndicates are airline personnel, coast guards, officers of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Philippines Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

"Although we have already made progress in the campaign against human trafficking through the enactment of the Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, to be more effective in preventing these kinds of incidents, RA 9208 needs to be amended to include the imposition of stiffer penalties for government officials involved in human trafficking," according to Rep. Yap.

It is unfortunate that some of our government officials and employees who should be protecting the rights of those who have less in life become agents of lawless elements for the curtailment of those rights, the lady solon said.

Specifically, Rep. Yap seeks the imposition of higher penalties (i.e. increase in the term of imprisonment from 20 to 25 years), in cases where an official or employee of the government would be committing acts of trafficking in persons such as recruitment, transport, harboring, or sale of persons, within or across national borders, for the purpose of exploiting for labor, prostitution, domestic servitude, bonded sweatshop labor, or other kinds of work and slavery-like practices, or organ removal and sale(Section 4 of RA 9208).

Stiffer penalties (i.e. increase in the term of imprisonment from 15 to 20 years) are also proposed for government officials or employees who shall commit acts that promote trafficking i.e. assistance in the conduct of misrepresentation or fraud in acquiring clearances and necessary exit documents from government agencies and facilitation or assistance in the exit and entry of persons with unissued, tampered, or fraudulent travel documents. (Section 5 of RA 9208).

The proposed measure likewise seeks stiffer penalties (i.e. increase in the term of imprisonment from six to ten years) for acts constituting violation of the confidentiality provisions as found in Section 7 of RA 9208 by government officials and employees.

"Because of the proposed stiffer penalties, the concerned public officials and employees would be wary and enjoin themselves from being actively involved and complicit in human trafficking," Rep. Yap said.

Migrante International has urged President Aquino to dismiss and prosecute government officials who are involved in trafficking activities. According to the group's chair, the proliferation of the number of people inside the government who benefit from these heinous crimes is an open secret. The group has even created a list of these government officials based on complaints they have received in the past years.