DUMAGUETE CITY, June 28 (PIA) -- The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) warned Filipino women on the dangers posed by intermarriages or marriage to foreigners, as human trafficking has been identified as one of the critical issues resulting from it especially under the mail order bride scheme.
Based on records from CFO, women comprise 49 percent of global immigrants.
CFO conducted a public symposium at the Dumaguete City session hall with the aim of educating Negrenses on the risks of human trafficking abroad due to migration.
Most cases of human trafficking involve immigrants who are victims of illegal recruitment and women who were enticed by their foreigner boyfriends.
One common scenario is where Filipino women meet their partners online, and the foreigner promises marriage to the Filipina and plans to bring her to their country.
To prevent this from happening, CFO Supervising Immigration Services Officer Aileen Macapili said, "People should really get to know those who are offering them opportunities to go abroad. If they are looking for jobs, they can check the agency in Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and for those who want to marry foreigners, they should thoroughly know their partners and attend the counseling program of the CFO."
She said it is unlawful to establish a business out of matching a Filipino woman for marriage to a foreigner.
CFO is a government agency that offers seminars to those who go abroad, especially those who are into intermarriage.
Filipinas with fiancé visas will not be able to leave the country unless they have attended the seminar of CFO.
According to Macapili, among the provinces in Region 7, Negros Oriental ranks third when it comes to numbers of Filipino immigrants.
The province is also the third province in the region with the most number of intermarriages with foreigners.
Total number of immigrants from the province is 2,000.
Aside from this, CFO is also active in combating human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
CFO case officer Romeo Ramirez said the CFO is also part of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) along with national government agencies like the departments of Justice (DoJ), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Foreign Affairs (DFA), Labor and Employment (DOLE), POEA, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Commission on Women.
CFO also encouraged Filipinos to report cases of human trafficking.
Ramirez said they can be reached through their hotline 1343.
Cases reported to them are forwarded to concerned government agencies.
Ramirez said the public should help the national government in fighting human trafficking because it is everyone's social responsibility.
Aside from Dumaguete City, CFO will also conduct similar symposiums at Tanjay City and Bais City tomorrow. (rmn/RAL/PIA-Negor)
Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2631372316624
