Human trafficking: Philippine president urges increased action. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the President of the Philippines, has directed the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) to intensify their endeavors against human trafficking. This action aims to uphold the country’s Tier 1 classification, the highest designation conferred by the US State Department.

As per Malacaang, the President intends to raise the formidable issue of human trafficking during the upcoming 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. Marcos has received comprehensive briefings on the human trafficking scenario and possesses a thorough understanding of its extensive and impactful nature.

Mico Clavano, Department of Justice (DoJ) explained, “Although we have already been given the Tier 1 ranking for 2022, we felt we could further enhance our own operations against human trafficking. We have to understand that our population is very migratory. Around 10% of our population seeks to travel and find their opportunities abroad, and this is very specific to our country as compared to other countries that have job opportunities where they are.”

Key hotspots for the illegal trafficking of Filipinos extend beyond borders, to countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The allure of economic prospects combined with deceptive promises has tragically led some Filipino women into the clutches of trafficking rings in Dubai. Despite ongoing efforts to bolster anti-trafficking measures, these regions remain areas of vulnerability, demanding a concerted global response to dismantle these networks and safeguard the rights and well-being of Filipinos seeking livelihoods abroad.

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