DOJ denies having data on PHL ‘sex tourism’

Contrary to United States Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr.’s statement, the Department of Justice (DOJ) does not have figures on sex trade in the Philippines. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima denied that the DOJ was the source of information that 40 percent of male foreign tourists in the Philippines come for sex. “As far as I know, the DOJ does not gather or collate statistics on sex tourists," De Lima said. “We don’t have anything like that." The DOJ supervises the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the primary government body against human trafficking. “I don't recall anything or any statistics that the DOJ or IACAT has prepared," De Lima further said. “At this point, I can say the information did not come from us." Thomas made the statement at a roundtable discussion among Court of Appeals justices last month. At a Senate hearing last Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario quoted Thomas as saying that he got the information from the DOJ. De Lima said Thomas has yet to respond to her letter asking him to clarify his statement on the rampancy of sex tourism in the Philippines. “It is in this connection that we respectfully request Your Excellency for confirmation of the accuracy of the said news reports, and for the data which provided the basis for the information. These would go a long way in assisting us in determining with dispatch the investigative and prosecutorial action required," De Lima said in her letter dated Oct. 3. “I am confident that Your Excellency is aware that the policies and operations of the Philippine government, including our active participation in international efforts to combat trafficking in persons, have amply demonstrated our determination to prevent, prosecute, and punish the commission of this crime," she added. Thomas received flak for his statement, with Senator Francis Escudero even asking the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to take action against the US ambassador. “I don't think we should let it go just because he's the ambassador of the United States," Escudero said during Tuesday’s Senate finance committee hearing on the budget of the DFA for 2012. “I don't think we should take it sitting down. I don't think we should take it calmly, I don't think we should take his word for it and let him get away with it," Escudero added. — Sophie Dedace/KBK, GMA News