US envoy: Intensify drive vs trafficking

Cebu City—US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. has called for an unrelenting fight against human trafficking in the Philippines and promised his government’s support for efforts to stamp out the “menace.”

“The US government will continue to work with all of you and with the Philippine government to combat this menace. We will continue to be your strong ally in this fight,” Thomas said on Friday.

The ambassador spoke during the signing of a covenant against human trafficking by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in Cebu province at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.

“We all must join hands to fight this modern-day slavery. Every country in the world has this challenge that we must defeat… I am signifying my continuing advocacy in the aggressive campaign [against] trafficking in persons,” he said.

Thomas said anyone involved in human trafficking, regardless of nationality, should be put behind bars.

“If an American comes here and traffics a boy, a girl, a man or a woman, they must be punished… Same for any Filipino,” he said.

He challenged the youth to report incidents of human trafficking.

The SK Cebu covenant states that the youth, students, SK members and advocates in the province will conduct massive awareness campaigns and organize watch groups in schools, churches and communities.

It seeks to inform the public about the scourge of human trafficking, report and prevent cases, protect and empower victims, and monitor and document the movements of traffickers, illegal recruiters and their cohorts.

The Movement of Anti-Trafficking Advocates in Cebu was launched during the covenant signing. It is supported by the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. and will enlist all SK members and officers in the all-out war against human trafficking.

The signing was led by SK Cebu Federation president Aladin Caminero and Association of Barangay Councils president Rimobapil Holganza, both provincial board members. With a report from Irene Sino-Cruz, Inquirer Visayas