Immigration chief urges govt ‘team effort’ against human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has called for a stronger cooperation among government agencies in the fight against human trafficking. According to a statement from BI's official website, Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said "team effort" is needed by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs, and local government units to make the drive against human trafficking successful. "It is imperative that these agencies forge a strong partnership and put in place a mechanism that will work to put a stop to exploitation of Filipino women and minors," he said. Libanan issued the call after he said that news reports misquoted him as having passed the responsibility of going after alien prostitutes to the police. Moreover, he said he called for a "joint and concerted effort" by the BI and PNP in going after foreigners engaged in the flesh trade. Meanwhile, BI Associate Commissioner Enrique Galang said the bureau has already put in place programs aimed at "combating human trafficking at the country's ports of entry." He said immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have also uncovered hundreds of undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who attempted to leave the country in the guise of being tourists. However, he said the bureau has been having difficulty enforcing the ban on the departure of "tourist workers" as the policy tends to infringe on the right of every Filipino citizen to travel. "This explains why Commissioner Libanan has called for the involvement of barangay officials, the PNP and local government units in launching a nationwide and no-nonsense drive against human trafficking and educating prospective victims about the risks and dangers they face if they leave and work abroad without the proper documentation," he said. Libanan also said the BI needs to work closely with the PNP in locating foreign sex workers and the sex dens or nightclubs where they ply their trade He said it is only after these suspected prostitutes are rounded up can these aliens be charged with immigration law violations and deported to their country of origin, either for overstaying their tourist visas or without here without a permit. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV