Church assures PHL govt of support in human trafficking fight

The incoming head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) assured the Philippine government of the Church's support in the fight against human trafficking. “On our front, we will be there to support all the efforts against human trafficking," said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, according to an article on the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN). Palma gave the reassurance after government authorities rescued last weekend 15 girls from a suspected trafficking operation in Cebu City. UCAN noted groups working against human trafficking have identified Cebu as a destination, source and transit area for trafficking. The UCAN report said the girls, aged between 14 and 17, were allegedly offered employment as housemaids, waitresses, and caretakers in Manila. “We are reminding people to be on extra guard," Palma said. He added human trafficking is “against the law and against the teachings of the Church." Palma added the Catholic Church promotes the dignity of persons and assists those who become exploited through trafficking and slavery by providing them with economic, educational, and formative services. “I hope that this will not happen and we will do our best that this thing will be avoided [in the future]," said Palma, who will assume his post as CBCP president on December 1. Human trafficking a top concern President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month, said his administration considers human trafficking a top concern. The United States recently upgraded the Philippines to Tier 2 status, based on compliance with minimum standards outlined in the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Countries with Tier 1 status are those whose governments fully comply with the minimum standards. Those in Tier 2 are countries that do not fully comply with the minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to do so. - VVP, GMA News