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Aquino admin taking tougher stance vs human trafficking


The government is taking a tougher stance on human trafficking, President Benigno "Noynoy"Aquino III said as he revealed that he is expecting the arrest of those engaged in the illegal activity "soon." In a one-on-one interview with GMA News' Sandra Aguinaldo in the United States before he departed for Manila, Aquino said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Department of Justice (DOJ) are all focused on eliminating human trafficking. "May ongoing pong paghahabol ng mga kinauukulan, yung mga nag e-engage sa illegal human trafficking. Nakafocus po ang DOLE saka yung DFA at DOJ diyan sa problemang yan (Authorities are currently pursuing those who engage in human trafficking. The DOLE, DFA, and DOJ are focused on that problem)," he said. Aquino said he received information last year that only four complaints were filed against someone who allegedly victimized hundreds, "365 days in a year." The president declined to provide more details, but said he has been paying attention to the issue for a long time. "Matagal na akong nakatutok, may hinihintay na akong pag aresto soon (I've been focused on this for a long time, I'm waiting for an arrest soon)," he said. "Mabigat po yung mga batas natin e. Kailangan ho mapatupad (The law is tough. It must be implemented)."

Last June, the US State Department said in its 2010 human trafficking report that the Philippines remains on the US government’s human trafficking watch list due to its “inefficient judicial system" and “endemic corruption" in government. The country has been on the list since 2001. “The Philippines is a source country, and to a much lesser extent, a destination and transit country for men, women, and children who are subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically forced prostitution and forced labor," the report said. The report cited an inefficient judicial system and corruption in government — especially in agencies tasked to solve the human trafficking problem — as reasons for the Philippines’ ranking. “Widespread corruption and an inefficient judicial system continue to severely limit the prosecution of trafficking cases. The vast majority of initiated trafficking prosecutions are usually unsuccessful, largely due to lack of evidence after victims disappear or withdraw cooperation," said the report. — Jam Sisante/RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV
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