Fight Against Human Trafficking in Sarangani Strengthened

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, December 29 (PIA)--- The Sarangani Provincial and Municipal Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (P/MIACAT) is bent to continuously making significant efforts to counter Human Trafficking in the province.

According to Atty. Elmer Lastimosa, provincial prosecutor and chairperson of PIACAT-VAWC of Sarangani, human trafficking is a “faceless enemy” making it quite difficult to stop.

Nevertheless, he added, this enemy must be defeated at all cost.

He explained that, in most cases, the victims are deceived with the promise that a job awaits them.

“And they are unaware that they are already being exploited by the perpetrators trading them even for a certain amount,” Lastimosa lamented.

He then explained the elements of a crime for human trafficking which include acts, means, and exploitative purpose. He said the absence of one cannot qualify it to be a human trafficking case but only an illegal recruitment.

He further said that prostitution is the most common form of exploitation and that selling of vital organs is also a form of trafficking.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XII through its Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) is giving non-stop assistance to the victims.

Data show that from year 2011 up to the third quarter of 2014, the DSWD XII has served a total of 255 cases in the whole region.

In South Cotabato, there are 15 cases served, North Cotabato, 73 cases, Sarangani, three cases, Sultan Kudarat, 26 cases, General Santos City, 42 cases, Tacurong City, 8 cases, Cotabato City, 32 cases, Koronadal City, 8 cases, and in Kidapawan, 3 cases were served. 

According to Naira Aratus, social welfare officer III/RRPTP in-charge of the DSWD XII, the program gives a temporary housing and food to the victims while it also provides a psychological support and counseling.

Under the program as well is a 24-hour call center for crisis calls and an economic assistance of P10,000.

At the recent Training Orientation on RA9208/ RA 10364, participants who were mostly social-development workers were further oriented on the new RA 10364 known as the “Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012,” an act amending RA 9208.

During the discussions, Lastimosa expressed a strong compassion to the victims advising the PIACAT members to educate the victims of their rights and to orient them on the various government resources they can avail of. (CT Apelacio/Lipsy Grace Carayo, PIA-12 General Santos City)

See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1671419843758/fight-against-human-trafficking-in-sarangani-strengthened#sthash.QhXamNNA.dpuf