‘PH can do more to fight human trafficking’

For the fourth consecutive year, the Philippines managed to comply with US standards for the elimination of human trafficking, although the Philippine government should do more to prosecute fraudulent labor recruiters and complicit officials involved in the trafficking chain.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila said the Philippines was among 33 other countries who were classified as Tier 1, or a country that has met minimum standards in fighting human trafficking, in the annual “Trafficking in Persons Report” of the US state department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

But the office’s 570-page report, released on Friday, also urged more efforts to prosecute complicit officials and labor traffickers and strengthen local government capacity to reintegrate trafficking survivors.

Human trafficking, including the prostitution of children, has continued to be a significant issue in the Philippines despite the passage in 2003 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, or Republic Act No. 9208, which penalizes human trafficking, sex tourism, sex slavery and child prostitution.

In 2011, the Philippines was classified as Tier 2, or countries not fully complying with minimum standards. —JEROME ANING