Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano pushed for “heightened implementation of our country’s Anti-Human Trafficking laws, regulations, and international agreements” in a privilege speech at the House of Representatives.
“I manifest my support for the Department of Justice, Department of Migrant Workers, and Department of Foreign Affairs and their attached agencies, particularly for programs that strengthen the fight against human trafficking and cybercrime,” Valeriano said.
“Isang karumaldumal na krimen ang human trafficking. Sa human trafficking ang ating kapwa tao ay kinukuha, ibinebenta, pinagpapasapasahan, iniaalok, inililipat, isinasakay, at iba’t iba pang uri nang panghahamak na para bang isang kalakal. Ang pinamakasakit pa rito, ang karaniwang biktima rito ay ang ating mga kababaihan at kabataan. Lumalabas sa datos ng Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking na 64% ng biktima sa Pilipinas ay kababaihan at 20% ay menor de edad,” the legislator said.
“Over 1,454 Filipino victims of scam hubs overseas have been repatriated since 2021.”
The lawmaker noted that the DFA disclosed how “over 1,454 Filipino victims of scam hubs overseas have been repatriated since 2021.”
“There are thousands more Filipinos smuggled overseas to work in modern-day slavery camps and households where Filipinos are subjected to slave labor and other forms of abuse,” he added.
Valeriano noted how the DOJ, DMW, and DFA “have lots of room for improvement in case buildup, field work, financial forensics, and support operations because although significant parts of the criminals’ control, coordination, and communication activities are conducted in cyberspace, including social media, human intelligence operatives are still needed to wage the war on human trafficking.”
He also pointed out how “human intelligence operatives remain relevant because some syndicates avoid detection and electronic trails by resorting to old school, analog, and covert tradecraft in command, control, coordination, and communication aspects of their criminal enterprises.”
“By the time these human trafficking syndicates are discovered either they are already at the airport or have exited through our borders in the south and on the western coast of Luzon,” Valeriano added.
He said the DOJ, DMW, and DFA also “need more lawyers, accountants, auditors, data analysts, undercover agents and confidential informants. They need intelligence assets in barangays, towns, and cities where the actual initial stages of human trafficking happen.”
“They need lawyers, accountants, and auditors who will make sure the traffickers are arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated.”
“They need lawyers, accountants, and auditors who will make sure the traffickers are arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated. They need specialists who will extend assistance to our nationals caught in the web of the human traffickers,” Valeriano said.
“The DOJ, DMW, and DFA also need effective, sustained communications and public awareness campaigns to make vulnerable sectors aware of the modus operandi of the human trafficking syndicates, who use sweet-talking swindlers and con artists to prey upon desperate people,” he concluded.
