Poe urges authorities to investigate human trafficking in group PH tours

FILE PHOTO: Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Committee on Public Services. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Thursday urged concerned government agencies to look into claims that organized crime groups use package tours in the Philippines for human trafficking.

During the Senate committee hearing on public order and dangerous drugs on the spate of kidnappings and abductions involving foreign nationals, Poe said foreigners are brought into the country in the guise of tourism trips, and then they are allegedly abducted.

“Ang nangyayari raw, may mga turistang pumupunta rito, pagdating nila rito nakikidnap sila tapos binebenta sa isang sindikato. ‘Pag nabawi na nu’ng sindikato ‘yung nagastos nila, saka lang pakakawalan ‘yung mga turista,” the senator narrated.

(They say tourists are going here and they are being kidnapped and then sold to a syndicate when they arrive. Once the syndicate recovers its expense, they will set the tourist free.)

“Malaking hamon sa kapulisan natin ito kaya kailangan talaga ang koordinasyon at dapat umpisahan na nating mag-imbestiga,” Poe added.

(This is a big challenge for our police force. That’s why coordination is really necessary, and investigations should already start.)

Poe stressed close coordination between concerned agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is important.

She also said the PNP should work with organizations like the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. At the same time, the BI should improve its inspection of foreigners entering the country.

Poe further criticized the PNP’s recent denial of the sudden rise in the crime rate. However, PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has brushed it off as mere “hype.”

READ: Crime wave only ‘hype,’ PNP claims

The senator cited data from the PNP itself showing that a total of 8,525 crimes were recorded from January-March and another 8,469 crimes were logged from June-August. She noted that these crimes included videos of victims – among them foreigners purportedly being tortured or intimidated, as well as the rape of kidnap victims, who are sent to their families to demand a huge amount of money.

“Given this data, I’d like to point out that it still means an average of 15 murder and homicides, 14 rape cases, and 14 robberies occurring every day. These are reported. Is this a normal situation?” Poe asked.

READ: Poe raises alarm over seeming ‘news blackout’ on abduction cases

“This puts to question what the PNP has been saying in the past few days that there’s no crime hike, just hype,” she added.

Poe, also during the hearing, said the PNP should assign a designated spokesperson to issue official statements and report data that will deliver clear and accurate information about the kidnapping incidents.

“Lately, ang daming nagsasalita (so many have been talking). The PNP should have a spokesperson. Clear and accurate information will help solve the problem we are facing about kidnappings,” she said. — Alyssa Joy Quevado, trainee

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