Sen. Loren Legarda yesterday called for a stricter implementation of the country's laws against human trafficking following a recent international news item which cited the Philippines as among those with a high incidence of such crime.
Legarda cited a CNN documentary which featured prostitution and cybersex as among the common forms of human trafficking acts in the Philippines, with minors being convinced to engage in such trade as they are promised with good income and a better life.
"The stricter provisions of the law should be matched with its effective implementation. Our government agencies should partner with concerned non-government organizations and our police force should undergo continuous training because human traffickers have become more innovative in their actions," she said.
Strict implementation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act or Republic Act 10364 should be emphasized due to the continuing proliferation of various forms of human trafficking in the country, the senator said.
"The problem of human trafficking continues to hound our society, which is why Congress has acted upon it by creating the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act," Legarda said.
The new law covers attempted trafficking and accessory or accomplice liability; protection to trafficked victims; and a permanent secretariat to the country's anti-trafficking efforts, among others, as well as stronger penalty provisions.
"Human trafficking, and the related problems of the illegal sex trade, forced labor and other forms of slavery, is a complex web. Battling it requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society. We must also keep in mind that traffickers target the most vulnerable sectors of society and this is the injustice that we must act against," the senator stressed.
Legarda is the principal sponsor of RA 10364.