Press Release No. 091-03
March 20, 2003

OPLE LAUDS SENATE APPROVAL OF ANTI-TRAFFICKING BILL

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople welcomed the news of the imminent passage of the Malacanang-certified Anti-Trafficking bill which would penalize the illicit recruitment, trafficking and transport of women and minors abroad as “sex slaves”.

Ople expressed concern over the rampant recruitment of Filipino women to work abroad in bars and nightclubs. “The victims were made to believe that they would be employed as hotel receptionists, sales ladies or as legitimate entertainers. After paying a certain fee and given fake passports, these women end up in places such as the Ivory Coast, Cyprus, and other destinations,” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has stepped up its efforts to curb human trafficking by engaging the help of the Department of Labor and Employment, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration and the Philippine National Police.

“Without a law penalizing human trafficking, these human traffickers have an easy time evading arrest,” Ople pointed out, adding that the low conviction rate for illegal recruitment cases has contributed to the flourishing of these human trafficking syndicates.

Secretary Ople said both Houses of Congress should be lauded for passing the anti-trafficking bill. He vowed that DFA will vigorously support the implementation of the final version of the law.

Ople said he plans to convene a Senior Working Group on Human Trafficking composed of relevant agencies to promote a national strategy against the trafficking of women and children.