Cinema plugs against human trafficking to be screened Friday

MANILA, Philippines—The Depatment of Social Welfare and Development has strengthened its campaign against human trafficking with the scheduled launching on Friday of “Iligtas Mo Ako” cinema plug during a block-off screening of the “Iron Man” movie.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman said the cinema plug would feature two modes of trafficking, namely: sexual and labor trafficking. It aims to present to the moviegoers the direful and traumatic effects of trafficking on the victims.

The cinema plug, which will run for six months, also strongly appeals to the audience to help stop human trafficking.

Soliman said the showing of the plug was made possible with the help of the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT).

Led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), around 200 IACAT members from the national government agencies, non-government organizations, media partners and civil society will watch the maiden airing of the cinema plug. Anti-Human Trafficking advocates from the local government u in Metro Manila will also witness the special airing of the plug.

Soliman stressed the need to point out to the public the threat being posed by trafficking and that Filipinos must act and report any information on human trafficking through the DSWD hotline number 9319141 or the IACAT Action Line 1343.

Based on the DSWD 2012 data, 1,376 persons have become victims of various kinds of trafficking nationwide. The victims were provided with adequate recovery and reintegration services under the DSWD’s Recovery and Reintegration Programs for Trafficked persons.

Similarly, in a report by IACAT, 1,519 human trafficking cases were filed in 2011, and 100 convictions were rendered in 2012. The latest major conviction was handed down this March by Judge Roberto P. Quiroz of Manila Regional Trial Court, sentencing Sonny Francisco to life imprisonment for qualified trafficking.

Last year Republic Act 10364, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, was enacted for a stronger anti-human trafficking measure, amending Republic Act 9208, or the “Anti-Human Trafficking in Persons Act.”

One of the new provisions under RA 10364 is the disclosure of the identities and circumstances of human trafficking offenders, previously provided with confidentiality protection to human traffickers under RA 9208.