Philippines welcomes Tier 1 retention in US trafficking report

The Philippines' Tier 1 status in the US government's list of countries that comply with anti-human trafficking standards demonstrates the country's seriousness in addressing the global scourge, Manila's embassy in Washington said Friday.

For five straight years, the US has retained the Philippines in the top category since 2016, which the embassy said is a recognition of the country's "relentless and comprehensive efforts to prevent trafficking in persons, protect the victims, and prosecute the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

"We remain fully committed to working with domestic and international partners, including the US in addressing this global concern. In this context, the Philippines shall continue to engage with both labor-sending but more importantly labor-receiving countries in promoting the welfare and protecting the rights of migrant workers everywhere," an embassy statement said."

Malacañang said the Philippine government remains “committed in the worldwide fight against human trafficking.”

"We have existing laws against human trafficking. We are parties to all relevant treaties [on] human trafficking and we are ensuring that we are implementing our laws as well as discharging our treaty obligations to the fullest," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

In its annual report released in Washington Friday, the US State Department said the Philippine government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period.

"These efforts included improving the coordination of services for returning Filipino migrant workers who were victims of trafficking overseas; convicting and punishing traffickers, including an official complicit in sex trafficking and labor traffickers; increasing assistance to survivors who provide testimony; and increasing the use of prosecution procedures that reduce the potential for further harm to trafficking victims," it said.

While Manila meets the minimum standards to address trafficking, the report, however, pointed out that "it did not vigorously investigate and prosecute officials allegedly involved in trafficking crimes, consistently criminally prosecute fraudulent recruiters and other labor traffickers."

The government also fell short of providing specialized protection and assistance services for child victims of cyber-facilitated sex trafficking, the US report said.

Community reintegration services, including trauma-informed care, employment training, and job placement for survivors also remained inadequate, it added.

The US Department of State is mandated by the US Congress to submit a global report under Public Law 106-386, otherwise known as “Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA) of the year 2000."

There are four tier placements in the annual US report: Tier 1 (full compliance), Tier 2 (no full compliance but making significant efforts to comply with standards), Tier 2 Watchlist (no full compliance and absolute number of victims increasing), and Tier 3 (no full compliance, no significant efforts to comply).

The Philippines narrowly escaped stiff sanctions that include the withholding of millions of dollars in American aid after the US removed the Philippines from a trafficking blacklist during the term of President Benigno Aquino III. — with Virgil Lopez/KBK/RSJ, GMA News