Source: The Philippine Star » News » Headlines
By Jose Rodel Clapano (The Philippine Star) May 19, 2012
MANILA, Philippines - Fifty women victims of human trafficking were rescued in Zamboanga City yesterday, Vice President Jejomar Binay said.
In a hastily called press conference at the Office of the Vice President at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City, Binay said the victims were mostly minors and are residents of Makiri, Isabela City in Basilan.
Binay, chairman emeritus of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and chairman of the Presidential Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment, said the victims were placed under the custody of the Visayan Forum and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
“I am happy to announce that around 11:30 a.m., the Task Force Against Human Trafficking rescued 50 young girls in Zamboanga City who are possibly victims of human trafficking,” Binay said.
He said all the victims were promised scholarship grants by their recruiter whose name was withheld.
He added that the recruiter told the victims that they would undergo an examination under the supervision of the National Youth Commission (NYC).
“But based on the investigation by the Task Force Against Human Trafficking, NYC commissioner Earl Saavedra confirmed that the NYC has not scheduled any examinations,” Binay said.
He said the victims’ recruiter, employed in the government, was arrested.
The recruiter will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Human Trafficking Act and RA 7610 or the Protection Against Child Abuse.
Binay lauded the Task Force Against Human Trafficking and the Visayan Forum, a non-government organization active in the campaign against human trafficking, for their role in the rescue of the victims and the arrest of the recruiter.
“This only shows the determination of the Aquino government in the campaign against human trafficking,” Binay said.
Binay lauded the Task Force Against Human Trafficking and the Visayan Forum, a non-government organization active in the campaign against human trafficking, for their role in the rescue of the victims and the arrest of the recruiter.
“This only shows the determination of the Aquino government in the campaign against human trafficking,” Binay said.
STATEMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE NYC COMMISSIONER REPRESENTING MINDANAO ON THE MAY 18, 2012 INCIDENT ON THE ALLEGED HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT COMMITTED IN ZAMBOANGA CITY
ReplyDeleteThe National Youth Commission- Office of the Commissioner Representing Mindanao condemns the act committed by a certain Khaiser Salih in victimizing our young people from Basilan. There was not even a single instance that we coordinated, transacted, communicated and partnered with Mr. Salih nor the entity he represents particularly in the matter of scholarship grants for high school and college students.
We were one with the victims and informants in reporting and denouncing his acts to the authorities in order not to compromise further the best interest of those affected by the incident. With this, we commend the local police forces of Zamboanga and the Barangay Captains concerned for their prompt response on the issue.
The National Youth Commission strongly advocates against human trafficking. We stand against those who take advantage of the innocence of young people by deceiving them with acts that are untrue, compromising and contrary to our ideals and mandate as the youth authority in government.
We call on all concerned sectors to maintain vigilance against scrupulous people in order to hinder future attempts to name-drop any institution such as NYC for personal gains and interests.
We issue this statement after the agency's name was dragged by the perpetrator of an alleged human trafficking act in Zamboanga City where there were young victims who complained against the above-named person.