Trafficking cases increase in Davao
November 11, 2014 at 08:01am
DSW-Davao Director Priscilla Razon said during the Kapehan sa SM City that as of January to November this year, its office has served 98 cases of human trafficking, with 81 females and 17 males.
She added that the recent case they encountered was the rescue of 10 girls in a motel in Davao City.
"We're intensifying our advocacy campaign against human trafficking as the most vulnerable victims are the children who are helpless and who are to be provided with protective services. If we will look at the cases, I don’t have the exact figure last year, but I’m definite that this year has increased," Razon said.
Of the 98 cases, Razon said most of the victims were forced to work, get into sexual exploitations, cyber pornography and prostitution.
He added that these cases came from Davao City, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Compostela Valley.
Assistant Davao Regional Prosecutor lawyer Robert Michael Razon, meanwhile, revealed that for the cases within the region this year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) already recorded 10 cases filed in Davao City, five in Tagum City and one in Davao del Norte.
"For this year alone, we have already two convictions. Actually, this is the increase from the statistic last year, which we only have 14 cases filed within the Region 11. The latest operation we had was last week wherein we arrested a suspect and rescued 10 girls in a motel," Razon said.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao Public Information Office head Antonio Rivera urged the public to report those suspicious looking persons to the nearest police offices in their area.
He said: "We always monitor the situation but we cannot move unless there is a complaining party."
In reaction to this, members of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) reiterated their call for increased vigilance against human and child trafficking in Davao Region.
The call was made as different government agencies, including non-government organizations are set to launch its 2014 campaign against human trafficking dubbed as “Magmatngon, Ipamalita, Magpakabana, Batukan, Ug Undangon Ang Human Trafficking” at the NCCC Mall Davao on November 12.
Global Impact founding director Amy Muranko-Gahan on Human Trafficking Awareness urged the public to join the advocacy campaign, saying: "This month is extremely important as everyone brings awareness against human and child trafficking into the region from November 12 to December 12."
Also set to attend the kick-off ceremony are the regional directors from Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, PNP members and Commission on Human Rights.
Source: sunstar.com.ph
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