CFO PRESS RELEASE

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court rendered its judgement against Annaliza Datiles Carpacio for violating the Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. She was convicted for recruiting and deceiving her victims by promising them work as waitresses but ended as sex workers in another country.

In February 2008, four women and a minor girl were recruited and promised by Ms. Carpacio to work as waitresses in Singapore. However, on the day of their departure, Ms. Carpacio brought them to a domestic airport and told them that they will instead travel to Malaysia via Zamboanga City to evade the stricter immigration policy in Singapore. Upon arrival in Zamboanga City, two men accompanied them to the port of Zamboanga City and proceeded to Malaysia via boat, where they were met by the cohorts of the accused. Four of the girls were brought to Brunei while the other was left in Malaysia. In Brunei, the complainants were forced to work as prostitutes as they  indebted their employer the amount of 2000 Brunei Dollars which is allegedly the expenses incurred for bringing them to the country. If they refused to give in to the sexual advances of their male customers, they were being cursed and maltreated.

When they had a chance, they escaped the brothel and sought refuge at the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur through the assistance of a Filipino neighbor. The Embassy assisted them in retrieving their personal belongings from their employer and in their repatriation to the Philippines. The case was endorsed to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) in Manila who provided them with repatriation, legal and psycho-social assistance.

Upon their return, Ms. Carpacio contacted one of the victims and offered a job as a caregiver in Singapore which prompted them to seek the assistance of the CFO in filing a report to the National Bureau of Investigation–Anti-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD). An entrapment operation was conducted wherein Ms. Carpacio and her cohorts were apprehended and a case for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 was filed.

On 16 November 2015, Presiding Judge Ralph S. Lee found the accused Annaliza Datiles Carpacio guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violation of Section 4: Acts of Trafficking in Persons of the RA 9208. She was sentenced to imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of one (1) Million Pesos and was ordered to pay each of the survivors P 500,000.00 for moral damages and P 50,000 for exemplary damages.

The case was handled and closely monitored by the CFO from the time the victims sought assistance until the promulgation of judgment. The CFO is a government agency under the Office of the President which is mandated to promote and uphold the interest of all overseas Filipinos. It is also the lead agency of the Advocacy and Communications Committee (ADVOCOM) of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) which supervises its flagship project, the 1343 Actionline against Human Trafficking. 

The 1343 Actionline is the first dedicated 24/7 hotline that responds to emergency or crisis calls from victims of human trafficking and their families. The 1343 Actionline likewise provides a venue for the public to be engaged in the fight against human trafficking which is in line with the core message of IACAT, Laban kontra Human Trafficking, Laban nating Lahat!

The Actionline can be reached from any point in Metro Manila and from the provinces using the Manila area code 02.  Aside from accessing it through a local telephone line, the 1343 Actionline has expanded its services to provide other modes of reporting of trafficking-related cases through its website www.1343actionline.ph, emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., mobile application, social media accounts and global toll-free lines in six countries. Recently, the 1343 Actionline created a web portal, www.onlinelegalcounseling.1343actionline.ph, which provides free online legal counseling to the public with queries about human trafficking and other related cases.

Submitted by:     Commission on Filipinos Overseas
Contact Persons :     Ms. Janet B. Ramos - 552-4744 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
                             Mr. Eumarlo M. Tolosa - 552-4713 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Approved by :       SECRETARY IMELDA M. NICOLAS
                         CFO Chairperson