US wants convictions in PHL human trafficking cases

Improving the conviction rate in human trafficking cases will be a surefire way for the Philippines to be stricken off a United States watchlist, US Ambassador to Manila Harry Thomas Jr. said Tuesday. “Clearly, the most important thing is how many convictions you have, so we’ll see," Thomas told reporters after a human trafficking forum in Pasig City. If the Philippines fails to graduate from the US State Department’s Tier 2 watchlist this year, it will land on Tier 3 category of countries that has failed to uphold international standards to combat human trafficking — a development that could have dire consequences when it comes to US aid. “If category three happens . . . That will be the end of humanitarian assistance," Thomas said. Although Washington welcomed the Aquino administration’s commitment in the fight against human trafficking as relayed by Vice President Jejomar Binay during the forum, Thomas said it is still “too early to say" whether the Philippines will be taken off the watchlist this year. Encouraging signs Thomas, however, pointed out encouraging signs like Binay’s pledge to US officials that the country will prosecute and send to jail more people behind human trafficking syndicates. Binay, for his part, expressed optimism that the Philippines will be taken off the list, citing the government’s achievements in addressing the problem and the high conviction rates of traffickers under the Aquino administration. “We will deliver," Binay said. “We have to further show that we really mean business. More will have to go to jail, more will have to be prosecuted." Binay said the Philippines’ objective should be “to rise to Tier 1 and join those countries that have succeeded in satisfying those standards." “We need to believe that it’s got to be done, and that we are ready and willing to do it," he said. Waiver Doreen Bailey, political officer of the US Embassy in Manila, said Washington can issue a waiver for countries “that have really shown significant steps forward but still aren't quite Tier 2." “They can recommend a waiver for an additional year, then another waiver if they still need it the next year. So basically that’s two additional years on the watchlist," Bailey said in a separate interview. Bailey warned that if a country, after four consecutive years on the watchlist, still fails to muster the resources to improve their standing, then they will be placed on the Tier 3 category without a waiver and will be denied American aid. The US retained this year the Philippines in its tier two watchlist of countries for the second straight year, citing the government’s inability to effectively prosecute trafficking crimes due to an inefficient judicial system and endemic corruption. The US State Department said 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." Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, executive director of the anti-trafficking group the Visayan Forum, said at least 300,000 Filipinos, mostly women, are being smuggled into other countries every year. Oebanda said her group, which offers assistance to victims of human trafficking, works alongside the government to end trafficking in persons from the Philippines. “It will be heartbreaking if despite our efforts, we will be included in the Tier 3 ranking," she said. - KBK, GMA News