AUTHORITIES were vigorous in arresting and filing charges against at least 169 suspects for online human trafficking, leading to the conviction of at least 169 traffickers, the International Justice Mission (IJM) was quoted in Gerome M. Dalipe’s Oct. 11 report published in SunStar Cebu.
The government’s “serious and sustained efforts” in convicting more traffickers, identifying more victims through “proactive screening procedures,” and preventing more migrant workers from being trafficked were cited as the reasons behind the Tier 1 status of the country, which means it meets the “minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.”
This is according to the 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report uploaded on the US Department of State official website.
However, the same report also reveals no cause for complacency. The Philippines needs to improve on at least three fronts: creating and improving “protection and assistance services” for victims, particularly “mental health care and services for male victims;” intensifying the investigation and prosecution of officials involved in trafficking; and clearing the backlog of trafficking cases in the courts.
In the recent prosecution of the Cordova couple found guilty of posing naked their six minor children for online customers, the couple was meted life imprisonment for qualified trafficking; five to 12 years of imprisonment for child abuse; 12 to 20 years for cyberpornography; and a fine of P12.8 million, as reported by SunStar Cebu.
Yet, the recent case in Cordova leaves disquieting implications. Despite the steepness of the consequences to convicted traffickers, this was and will hardly be the last case involving the online sexual exploitation of children.
As important, what happens to the minors victimized by their own parents or relatives and now abandoned because of the latter’s life imprisonment?
The US Department of State’s recommendations addressing the second concern implies an infusion of resources to programs benefiting victims, such as expanding the victim and witness protection program to cover more victims throughout criminal justice proceedings; and increasing support for long-term specialized services for victims, which may involve government and non-government partners.
Significant political will is needed to carry out other interventions upholding the welfare of the minors, women, and men who are trafficked.
As recommended in the 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report, there must be stronger efforts to prevent the “re-traumatization” of victims who become witnesses, which exposes them to multiple interviews carried out by the authorities and other parties, particularly the media. While raising public awareness helps to educate and prevent other vulnerable parties from falling victim, media coverage can never justify interviews that subject the rescued from reliving the trauma of trafficking.
The Philippines must also step up in responding with community-based follow-up services that facilitate the reintegration of victims.
With citizens who are among the world’s most digitally active Netizens and made also vulnerable by poverty, migration, liberal mores, natural disasters, and armed conflict, the country cannot rest yet in fighting trafficking.
The obstacles are daunting in rooting out corruption, with some officials conspiring with illegal recruiters and traffickers or even coercing domestic servitude or sexual services in exchange for government protection and other services.
The enforcement of anti-trafficking also suffers from “endemic inefficiencies” in the judicial system, a problem that encompasses from trial delays to corruption.
Yet, what should not be sidelined in the country’s efforts to end human trafficking is the rescue, recovery, and reintegration of victims.