Most CARAGA victims of trafficking are minors

BUTUAN CITY - Minors comprised most of victims of human trafficking in northeastern Mindanao during the last five years, a coalition said. Of the total 179 trafficked victims from 2004 to 2009, 83 cases fell within the 13 to 17-year-old bracket, the Regional Inter-Agency Coalition Against Trafficking in its official 2009 year-end report that covered the five-year period. The same figure also indicated that 125 were female while the remaining 54 were males, said the group in power point presentation entitled “Caraga Situationer on Trafficked Persons." Sixty-one cases were in the 18-22 year-old category, 21 were among those in 23 to 28 years, 7 were in the 29 to 33-year-old category, three were within the 34 to 40 year-old cluster, while the remaining four cases were 41 years old and above, added the report which was released during a press briefing. Dire poverty was identified as the reason for human trafficking incidence in the special CARAGA administrative region during the last five years, the same report added. The region is made up of five provinces, namely Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. Agusan del Sur topped the list with 41 human trafficking cases; Agusan del Norte with 17 cases; Butuan City, 15 cases; Surigao del Sur, 13 cases; Bislig City, nine cases; Surigao City, seven cases; Surigao del Norte, five cases; and Dinagat islands; one trafficking case. The cases exclude unreported cases, the coalition said, adding that the number of trafficked persons in the region may have increased over the years unnoticed. In 2004, 13 cases of trafficking in the region was reported. Fifty-three were reported in 2005, 14 in 2006, 23 in 2007, 59 in 2008 In 2005; 53 cases; 2006; 14, year 2007 had 23 cases, 2008 had the most number reported with 59 cases while in 2009 it only recorded 17 cases. Among the entry and exit points of human trafficking activities in the region were by sea, the Surigao Cty port in Barangay Lipata and the Nasipit Port in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. In the meantime, by land, entry and exit points of human trafficking activities were the most popular Langihan Terminal here in Butuan City; the Surigao City Bus and Jeepney Terminal; San Francisco Terminal in Agusan del Sur; Tandag City Bus and Jeepney Terminal and Bislig City Terminal, both in Surigao de Sur and the Cabadbaran City Bus and Jeepney Terminal in Agusan del Norte province. By air transportation, human trafficking activities were reported in Bancasi Airport here in Butuan City, the Surigao City Airport, and the Sayak Airport in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte. Moreover, the group added that its challenges to its anti-trafficking campaign include delayed submissions of family assessment by the local government units, lack of cooperation among victims against perpetrators, victims’ families’ lack of support, and the lack of after-care services for victims. In the meantime, RIACAT said that it intends to develop better data collection and system of monitoring victims of trafficking, continue ensuring capacity upgrades to boost the staff’s competencies in managing trafficking victims, and continue to coordinate with local government units and other agencies in the implementation of Republic Act 9208, or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. During press conference at the DSWD Caraga regional office’ 15th year anniversary, DSWD-Caraga in charge for trafficking Jayvee Pagalan claimed the human trafficking incidents in the region have been alarming. DSWD-Caraga officials headed by Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat claimed measures have been already stepped up by the agency to arrest the trend. However, the agency said that its statistics were different from the numbers presented by RIACAT, claiming that from 2004 to 2009, there were only 119 cases in the region. From January to February 2010, the DSWD Caraga regional office claimed they already recorded 17 trafficking cases. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV