This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 18 MANILA 000971 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP - LNORIN, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, 
EAP/RSP, EAP/PMBS 
LABOR FOR ILAB 
USAID FOR CDOWNEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KWMN KCRM SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES: FIFTH ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN 
PERSONS REPORT 
 
REF: A. MANILA 740 
     ¶B. MANILA 655 
     ¶C. MANILA 607 
     ¶D. MANILA 436 
     ¶E. 04 MANILA 5428 
     ¶F. 04 STATE 273089 
     ¶G. 04 MANILA 0996 
 
(U)  This cable is Sensitive But Unclassified -- please 
handle accordingly. 
 
¶1.  (U) Mission,s fifth annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) 
report follows below.  The report covers the period from 
March 2004 through March 2005.  Point of contact (POC) is 
Political Officer David C. Maness, ManessDC@State.Gov, (632) 
528-6300 x5165, fax (632) 523-1195.  Rank of TIP action 
officer is FS-04. Estimated completion time for report: 
FS-MC officer: 1 hour; FS-01 officers: 10 hours; 04 officers: 
115 hours. 
 
======== 
Overview 
======== 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The answers below are keyed to the format contained 
in Ref E, Para 18: 
 
¶A.  The Philippines is an origin, transit point, and to a 
lesser extent, destination country for internationally 
trafficked men, women and children. Trafficking also occurs 
within the country's borders.  Reliable estimates of the 
current extent or magnitude of the problem are not available, 
but the estimates of various NGOs and government agencies 
range from 300,000-400,000 women and 100,000 children 
trafficked internally, into Southeast Asia and 
beyond from the Philippines. 
 
Aside from working in the commercial sex industry, many 
trafficked persons work as domestic servants, as well as in 
unsafe and exploitative industries such as forced labor.  In 
2004, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 
provided services to 162 women victims of illegal 
recruitment, 85 victims of involuntary prostitution, and 85 
victims of trafficking.  DSWD assisted a total of 373 victims 
of sexual exploitation, 333 of child labor, 54 of illegal 
recruitment, and 135 of trafficking.  The Trade Union 
Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), which tracks 
labor-related data nationwide, recorded a total of 52 
trafficking incidents involving 266 victims from January 2004 
to January 2005. 
 
Sources of information involved in the preparation of this 
report include the following government agencies:  the 
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); the Department of 
Justice (DOJ); 
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); the 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); the Philippine 
Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC); the National 
Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW); and the 
Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (PAIRTF). 
The following NGOs also provided input:  the American Center 
for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS); the Coalition 
Against Trafficking in Women ) Asia Pacific (CATW-AP); End 
Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of 
Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT); the Visayan Forum 
Foundation (VFF); The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines 
(TUCP), and the International Justice Mission/Philippines 
(IJM).  Some information stemmed from media reports. 
 
Women face a far higher potential of becoming victims of 
trafficking than men, and girls are more at risk than boys. 
Trafficking in children is generally internal:  children and 
young women from poor farming communities in Visayas (the 
Central Philippines) and Mindanao are brought to major urban 
centers and employed as factory workers, domestic helpers or 
prostitutes.  Victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation 
are generally girls, with ages ranging from 7 to 16 years 
old.  Ethnic minorities, migrant workers, and other socially 
marginalized groups are more at risk than other groups due to 
the high prevalence of poverty. 
 
¶B.  Trafficking of persons usually takes place from poor, 
rural areas throughout the Philippines to major urban areas 
within the country, especially Metro Manila and Cebu.  Often, 
foreign trafficking rings bring the victims to destinations 
throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and 
South Africa.  International organized crime gangs also 
traffic persons from mainland China through the Philippines 
to third country destinations.  Filipino overseas performing 
artists (OPAs) in Japan numbered 70,628, the vast majority of 
them women.  Evidence suggests that a majority of OPAs are 
forced to or voluntarily enter into prostitution.  Less 
frequently, the Philippines is the final destination point or 
transit point for persons trafficked from China. 
 
¶C.  Since last year, there have been no measurable 
significant changes in the direction, extent, or nature of 
trafficking in the Philippines.  Endemic poverty, a high 
unemployment and underemployment rate, a cultural propensity 
towards migration, a weak rule of law environment, and the 
sex tourism industry all contribute to the continuation of 
trafficking.  After the passage of major anti-trafficking 
legislation in May 2003, the government also took the 
important step of assigning four prosecutors from the 
Department of Justice to focus specifically on trafficking 
cases in August 2004.  The Government of Japan's expected 
implementation of new visa rules regarding &entertainer 
visas8 on March 15, 2005 should cut down on the issuance of 
such visas and, thus, the incidence of trafficking involving 
Filipinos working in Japan. 
 
¶D.  Several government agencies maintain their own separate 
databases, but many of these do not focus exclusively on 
trafficking.  The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime 
(PCTC), established in 1999, collects information on 
transnational crime activities, but its records are not 
comprehensive.  The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), 
an attached agency of the DFA, has developed a database to 
monitor legal problems involving Filipinos overseas.  The 
system is not restricted to trafficking and generates 
relevant reports on other cases such as domestic violence and 
human smuggling.  The CFO plans to integrate this information 
into the shared government database, but, as of February 
2005, this project is not yet complete. 
 
Following the anti-trafficking law signed in May 2003, the 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has 
conducted an extensive national anti-trafficking in person's 
publicity campaign. 
 
¶E.  The Philippines is only occasionally a destination point 
for internationally trafficked individuals.  Reports indicate 
trafficking from China, South Korea, and Russia of 
individuals to engage in prostitution.  Internal trafficking 
generally includes individuals from the Visayas and Mindanao 
regions to major metro areas to work as domestic servants, 
small-factory workers, in the drug trade, and sometimes in 
the commercial sex industry as bar girls or prostitutes. 
Many are victims of traffickers from their local areas. 
Victims are often subject to violence, threats, debt bondage, 
and withholding of documents. 
 
¶F.  Traffickers most often target the multitudes of workers 
seeking overseas and urban employment.  (Approximately 8.6 
million Filipinos work overseas, which works out to about 10 
percent of the population and 20 percent of the workforce. 
An estimated 10 percent of GDP comes from these workers, 
remittances.)  The most common recruits are girls and young 
women aged 13 to 30, from rural areas, and mainly from 
impoverished families.  Many girls from ethnic minorities 
aged 10 to 15 also end up as commercial sex workers. 
Recruiters generally seek victims with a group of friends or 
relatives from the same neighborhood or village, providing a 
false sense of security.  Traffickers are often private 
employment recruiters who cooperate with organized crime 
rings.  The most common method to approach victims is to 
promise respectable and lucrative jobs with good benefits 
such as free board, lodging, transportation, and cash 
advances.  Parents and guardians are often supportive, 
believing that work abroad is the key to ascending the 
socio-economic ladder.  Traffickers use fake travel 
documents, falsified permits, and tampered birth certificates. 
 
¶G.  President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her administration 
frequently speak out in public about the evils of trafficking 
and the efforts of the government to combat TIP.  They have 
stated there is zero tolerance by the government of TIP in 
any way, although the government sought to protect access by 
"legitimate" Filipino entertainers to Japan and/or to delay 
implementation of tougher GOJ visa regulations.  In August 
2004, the government took the important step of assigning 
four prosecutors from the DOJ to focus specifically on 
trafficking cases more fully to utilize the landmark 2003 
anti-TIP legislation.  The law codifies stiffer penalties 
against traffickers in women and children and against users 
or buyers of prostituted victims.  Under Republic Act (R.A.) 
9208, trafficking violators face a penalty from six years to 
life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P5 
million (8,900 USD - 89,000 USD).  Trafficking is considered 
a non-bailable offense.  The law also entitles victims and 
survivors to counseling, temporary shelter, health care, 
legal assistance, and access to the government's witness 
protection program.  Prosecutors have already filed charges 
and are pursuing six cases of alleged trafficking.  Courts 
have yet to render any verdicts, however. 
 
In coordination with DOLE, the DFA takes the lead in 
protecting the rights of migrant workers at Philippine 
embassies abroad.  Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs), 
the operating arm and overseas representative of DOLE, is 
under the supervision of the Chief of Mission or the 
Philippine Ambassador.  Over forty labor attaches serve at 
thirty-three POLOs around the world, located at Philippine 
embassies and consulates.  Posts with a high number of 
overseas Filipino workers (OFW), such as Hong Kong, 
Singapore, Jeddah, Dhahrain/Al-Khobar, Dubai, Kuwait, and 
London, employ more than one labor attach to deal with the 
large caseloads.  OFWs may report contract violations or 
abuse to POLOs who, in turn, refer the cases to the DFA or 
DOLE.  POLOs provide access to rescue and repatriation, 
custodial and legal assistance, temporary shelter, and 
medical aid. 
 
DSWD is responsible for the social reintegration of victims 
of trafficking once they return home.  It operates 13 
substitute homes for distressed women through the support of 
Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI), a non-profit 
organization assisting those in need.  Eight social workers 
are deployed (one each) to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, 
Tokyo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City, and Riyadh to provide 
psycho-social counseling to OFWs in distress, and work in 
conjunction with POLOs.  A social welfare attach in Malaysia 
coordinates with the local government in rescuing and 
repatriating victims of trafficking and other forms of abuse. 
 
While government agencies have undertaken extensive efforts 
worldwide to fight trafficking, inadequate funding is a 
chronic problem throughout the government in all fields. 
Anti-trafficking resources focus primarily on prevention and 
protection for overseas Filipino workers.  The strongest 
efforts exist in the areas of helping to prevent persons from 
becoming victims, repatriating victims in destination 
countries, and reintegrating them into Philippine society 
upon their return home. 
 
¶H.  The government adamantly opposes trafficking in persons 
and senior officials have made clear that the government 
would never condone official complicity in such trafficking. 
There is no known involvement by senior officials in such 
trafficking.  However, in this culture of corruption, 
anecdotal evidence suggests that some government officials 
(such as customs officers, border guards, immigration 
officials, and local police) sometimes receive bribes from 
traffickers or otherwise assist in their operations.  The 
government launched a major anti-corruption drive in 2004-05, 
which has resulted in numerous prosecutions, including of 
several senior military and civilian officials, but not in 
the area of trafficking-related corruption per se. 
 
In September 2004, the government transferred responsibility 
for issuing OPA accreditations from the controversial 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 
to the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA).  POEA 
tightened the process for Artist Accreditation Certificate 
(AAC) issuance by only allowing licensed recruitment agencies 
(certified by POEA) to submit applications.  Further changes 
included the following: 
 
-- Requiring a booking confirmation (a job offer from Japan 
or other overseas destination country) before accreditation; 
 
-- Using biometrics during the audition to authenticate the 
performer's identity; 
 
-- Requiring that Japanese promoters make an escrow deposit 
with the POEA to cover claims by entertainers with a 
legitimate grievance; 
 
-- Increasing information dissemination and TIP training for 
licensing agencies and entertainers going overseas. 
 
As anticipated, the Government of Japan has begun to 
implement tightened entertainer visa requirements intended to 
reduce the number of exploited Filipino entertainers in 
Japan.  While no reliable estimates are yet available, the 
changes will likely result in a significant reduction in OPA 
deployment. 
 
¶I.  The government's ability to address the problem remains 
limited by inadequate funding throughout the government, 
including for police.  Corruption in the government and the 
general ineffectiveness of the judicial system are also 
factors that impede the government's ability to prosecute 
trafficking cases.  Many government agencies have not yet 
fully implemented the 2003 anti-trafficking law due to lack 
of training and orientation on the scope and magnitude of the 
problem.  While the government does allocate resources 
through the DSWD to aid victims, funding is insufficient and 
national and international NGOs and other foreign donors 
(including the USG) must complement official government 
programs. 
 
¶J.  The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) 
began in May 2003 to implement the then-new anti-trafficking 
law and to coordinate government policy regarding 
trafficking.  The IACAT is active, although there are 
complaints that it meets too infrequently and does not have 
staff of its own.  The government is still in the process of 
developing a central database to monitor trafficking-related 
activities.  Government officials involved in anti-TIP 
activities meet regularly with concerned NGOs, foreign 
donors, embassies, and regional and international 
organizations to share information and assessments, but all 
agree solid data about the extent of the problem remains 
difficult to obtain. 
 
¶K.  Prostitution is illegal, but remains widespread.  Many 
prostitutes work independently in small brothels rather than 
in prominent entertainment clubs.  Hostesses, referred to as 
"guest relations officers" (GROs), sometimes engage in 
illegal prostitution, though they are usually barred from 
leaving an establishment with a customer.  The government 
requires GROs to undergo frequent health checks. 
 
An anti-prostitution bill remains under consideration in the 
House of Representatives.  It would punish those involved in 
the industry, such as pimps and brothel owners, while 
decriminalizing those exploited in the prostitution industry. 
 The bill states that women and children who engage in 
prostitution can be victims and should be freed from criminal 
liability.  It also states that people exploited in 
prostitution are entitled to support, protection, and may 
seek legal redress. 
 
========== 
PREVENTION 
========== 
 
¶3. (SBU) The answers below are keyed to the format contained 
in Ref E, Para 19: 
 
¶A.  The government considers trafficking a serious issue and 
is actively engaged in combating trafficking. 
 
¶B.  Several cabinet level agencies and sub-agencies are 
actively involved in combating trafficking in the 
Philippines.  The IACAT coordinates, monitors, and oversees 
the implementation of the law, and serves as an umbrella 
organization to coordinate anti-TIP efforts.  IACAT is 
co-chaired by the Secretary of the DOJ and the Secretary of 
the DSWD.  Other member agencies include DFA, DOLE, POEA, 
NCRFW, and the Philippine National Police (PNP).  Three NGOs 
representing women, children and overseas Filipino workers 
are also part of the IACAT. 
 
In July 2004, the government created the Presidential 
Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (PAIRTF) to develop and 
execute strategies to deter illegal recruiters, mainly by 
focusing on international airports and other points of 
departure.  The PAIRTF's mandate is also to ensure a greater 
number of prosecutions of illegal recruiters, syndicates, and 
protectors by directing relevant government agencies to 
investigate and prosecute cases. 
 
PAIRTF officials arrested three suspects allegedly involved 
in a transnational trafficking in persons case in October 
¶2004.  Officials were able in the course of the investigation 
to rescue three Filipinas from forced sexual servitude in 
Malaysia.  The victims have returned to the Philippines and 
filed a complaint against their Filipino recruiters. 
 
Various other government agencies' efforts in 
anti-trafficking are outlined below: 
 
--The DFA extends assistance to victims of trafficking abroad 
and oversees the voluntary repatriation of victims.  It acts 
as the central coordinating unit for all bilateral, regional 
and multilateral efforts.  The DFA's Commission on Filipinos 
Overseas (CFO) provides pre-departure orientation and 
counseling services and offers liaison services to Filipinos 
overseas with the help of other government and private 
agencies.  The CFO also coordinates with the Bureau of 
Immigration (BI) regarding the apprehension of violators; 
 
--The DFA's Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers 
Affairs (OUMWA) addresses trafficking issues involving 
migrant workers.  It works in conjunction with other 
government agencies, overseas workers, their families, NGOs, 
and religious groups to deliver assistance to Philippine 
nationals; 
 
--DSWD focuses on the protection of victims.  It implements 
rehabilitative and protective programs for trafficked 
persons.  It also provides temporary shelter to trafficked 
persons and abused women in coordination with NGOs; 
 
--DOLE is responsible for coordinating the government 
campaign against illegal recruitment and for maintaining 
records of overseas Filipino workers.  It ensures the strict 
implementation and compliance with the rules and guidelines 
on the employment of persons locally and overseas.  It also 
monitors, documents, and reports cases of trafficking in 
persons involving employers and labor recruiters; 
 
--The OWWA, an attached agency of DOLE, has responsibility 
for protecting overseas workers and their dependents.  It 
provides counseling and legal assistance programs to overseas 
workers and conducts information dissemination and awareness 
campaigns.  Officers of DOLE assigned as Labor Attaches at 
Philippine Embassies spend much of their time assisting 
overseas workers.  In countries with large numbers of OFWs, 
an OWWA officer also often serves as Assistant Labor Attach; 
 
--DOJ is responsible for protecting the rights of victims of 
trafficking and prosecuting traffickers.  It also offers free 
legal assistance for trafficked persons in coordination with 
the DSWD, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and 
NGOs.  Four prosecutors specifically focus on trafficking 
cases; 
 
--Under the DOJ, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), 
the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the National Police 
Commission (NAPOLCOM) work to identify, investigate and 
dismantle trafficking operations and prosecute offenders. 
The NBI has created a task force on the protection of women 
against exploitation and abuse, and a separate task force on 
the protection of children; 
 
--The DILG conducts systematic information and prevention 
campaigns, and is creating a databank for the efficient 
monitoring, documentation, and prosecution of cases of 
trafficking in persons; 
 
--The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women 
(NCRFW) institutes development plans for women and provides 
technical assistance in setting up and strengthening response 
to gender issues.  It formulates and monitors policies on 
trafficking in persons in coordination with relevant 
government agencies; 
 
--The BI administers and enforces immigration and alien 
administration laws and adopts measures for the apprehension 
of suspected traffickers both at the place of arrival and 
departure.  It ensures the compliance of Filipinos engaged or 
married to foreign nationals with the guidance and counseling 
requirements provided for in the trafficking law.  It also 
controls and monitors border points by deploying deputized 
marines to help enforce immigration laws; 
 
--POEA, affiliated with DOLE, is the primary administrator of 
licenses for recruitment agencies.  Recruitment agencies 
cannot solicit employees for overseas work without the 
permission of POEA.  POEA has authority to place on probation 
or bar from recruiting new workers and any agencies in 
violation of POEA standards.  POEA also administers 
pre-employment orientation seminars and pre-departure 
counseling programs to applicants for overseas employment. 
POEA trains consulate staff, overseas labor officers and 
social welfare officers in methods for assisting trafficking 
victims abroad.  It also provides free legal assistance to 
trafficked victims; 
 
--The Philippine Center of Transnational Crime (PCTC) 
collects information for the effective monitoring, 
documentation, and prosecution of cases of trafficking in 
human beings. 
 
¶C.  The POEA distributed a total of 280,000 pamphlets about 
licensed recruitment agencies in 2004 to Filipinos interested 
in applying for work overseas.  government agencies have 
increased the frequency of TIP training and orientation 
efforts over the last 10 months, according to reports.  The 
programs have already included training for several thousand 
government officials, including prosecutors, judges, NBI 
investigators, as well as local government units and city 
councilors.  Specifically, the latest DOJ estimates indicate 
that 155 out of approximately 2000 prosecutors nationwide 
have received training in the TIP law.  In addition, 
thousands of workers and hundreds of recruiting firm 
employees have also received training.  IACAT is now 
finalizing a "standard orientation module" to begin use in 
early 2005.  TIP training programs that took place in 2004 
include: 
 
-- government's Judicial Academy training (October): about 50 
judges and lawyers; 
 
-- Laoag local government TIP training (Laoag is a city in 
northern Luzon Island): about 30 members of the local 
government trained by DOJ in early September; 
 
-- Orientation for judges and prosecutors on the TIP law (3-4 
September 2004) in Manila: conducted jointly by the Supreme 
Court, Philippine Judicial Academy, DOJ, National Police 
Commission, University of Philippines Law Center, and the 
ACILS' Anti-Trafficking Project; 
 
-- Asia Foundation (September 2-4): 30 participants from 
Asian governments and NGOs (including the Philippines) 
participated in an anti-TIP "best practices" seminar in 
Manila; 
 
-- National Commission on Role of Filipino Women training 
(August 25): About 50 prosecutors trained in Pampanga 
province in the central Philippines; 
 
-- Bataan province TIP training (July): about 30 members of 
the local government trained by DOJ; 
 
-- Women's League-sponsored training (June 24/25):  about 30 
prosecutors and judges were trained in the 2003 law; 
 
-- City Councilor Training (January - October 2004): a DOJ 
prosecutor conducted two training courses for over 800 City 
councilors; 
 
-- POEA: provided a one-day TIP module training to staff of 
licensing agencies, at pre-employment seminars for overseas 
workers, and at job fairs.  POEA estimates that 600 staff 
from licensing agencies and a few thousand overseas workers 
have received this training since late 2003; 
 
-- Eight International Justice Mission (IJM) Training 
sessions for over 220 people from the NGO and law enforcement 
community.  Sessions took place in Manila, Davao City, and 
Cebu; 
 
-- Several ACILS Anti-trafficking Project orientation 
seminars took place around the country in 2004, providing 
training for over 2000 people from the national government 
and local government units as well as the NGO community. 
 
¶D.  The government supports numerous other programs to 
prevent trafficking.  It promotes women's participation in 
economic decision-making and efforts to keep children 
enrolled in school.  It provides skill training for women and 
access to capital via micro-loans to create new jobs.  These 
efforts are aimed at promoting the local economy and 
lessening the need for women to go to urban centers or abroad 
to earn money. 
 
DOLE is the lead agency of the National Program Against Child 
Labor (NPACL), a comprehensive inter-agency response to child 
labor in the Philippines.  The program focuses on preventing 
children from becoming victims of the worst forms of child 
labor (including trafficking) and ensures that victims will 
be provided protection and reintegrated into society. 
 
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas counsels Filipinos 
engaged or married to foreign nationals and provides 
information on intermarriages, migration, rights and 
obligations, and available support networks abroad.  In order 
to obtain a marriage certificate, local registrars require 
that foreigners obtain a "Legal Capacity to Marry" statement 
from their embassy, attesting they are not married abroad. 
DSWD provides social protection and promotes the rights and 
welfare of the disadvantaged sector.  DSWD keeps social 
workers posted at international airports to monitor the 
travel of minors abroad.  The Crisis Intervention Unit of 
DSWD's Quick Response Team serves the needs of women victims 
of trafficking by strengthening and establishing working 
arrangements with government, non-government, professional 
and civic organizations.  Other efforts include organizing 
support groups and providing psycho-social, medical, legal 
and counseling services. 
 
The Bureau of Non-Formal Education, an agency under the 
DepEd, has developed learning  modules for Parents of Working 
Children (PWC) in various regions with high incidence of 
worst forms of child labor.  Translated into local dialects, 
the modules aim at educating the parents about their 
children's health needs and basic rights, and provide 
opportunities for livelihood and income generating projects. 
DepEd continues to operate a home study program designed to 
prevent students from quitting school due to poverty, 
illness, or early marriage.  With assistance from POEA and 
CFO, DepEd also incorporates lessons on international 
migration (including illegal recruitment and mail order 
brides) into social studies and values education subjects in 
public elementary and high schools throughout the country. 
 
The POEA conducts pre-departure seminars for migrant workers, 
covering topics such as contracts, wages, benefits, etc.  It 
also provides comprehensive community education and programs 
on trafficking. 
 
¶E.  The government is able to support some prevention 
programs, but funding is limited.  For example, the PAIRTF 
received only USD 185,000 in 2004 funding.  However, the 
vibrant NGO community supplements government efforts with 
innovative and low-cost programs that assist trafficking 
victims. 
 
¶F.  The relationship among government officials, NGOs, and 
other elements of civil society concerned with trafficking 
issues is exemplary.  The NGO Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. 
(VFF) coordinates closely with local law enforcement and 
private industry in rescuing trafficking victims in Manila's 
North Harbor, for example.  Additionally, three member NGOs 
focused on women, children, and overseas Filipino workers are 
part of the IACAT.  The NGOs assist the government in 
preventing trafficking activities, protecting and 
reintegrating trafficking victims, and prosecuting 
traffickers. 
 
NGOs often refer trafficking victims to government agencies, 
as the NGOs lack the necessary funding fully to help victims 
and their families.  Government agencies recognize the 
importance of engaging NGOs in their advocacy programs. 
Several government agencies have NGO desks that oversee 
government-NGO coordination. 
 
Since 2001, the IJM, a US-based NGO employing private 
Filipino investigators and prosecutors, has coordinated with 
the government in an effort to increase the number of pro 
bono prosecutions in the country, including under the 2003 
anti-trafficking law.  In the area of investigation, IJM 
gathers evidence against establishments that employ 
prostitutes and children, and shares this information with 
the National Bureau of Investigation.  IJM's private 
prosecutors then file criminal cases for sexually abused 
women and children.  In late 2004, the International 
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL) funded a grant 
project for IJM intended to accelerate prosecutions 
nationwide. 
 
¶G.  Manila's North Harbor, the country's largest port, sees 
five million passengers pass through on an annual basis.  As 
many as half of these are persons in search of employment. 
Despite efforts to guard major port areas, the government 
does not have sufficient resources adequately to monitor its 
borders.  The Philippines has more than 7,000 islands, and 
fully monitoring its maritime borders is virtually impossible 
with the limited resources of the maritime services.  From 
January 2004 to December 2004, the VFF assisted 2,987 
trafficked women and children in major port areas. 
 
The Philippine Coast Guard under the Department of 
Transportation and Communication (DOTC) intercepts ferries in 
order to identify trafficked victims and illegal recruiters 
in coordination with private shipping companies. The Maritime 
Police conducts investigations upon the disembarkation of 
passengers.  It refers victims of trafficking to government 
agencies or local NGOs for further assistance. 
 
Owners, managers, and key personnel of shipping companies 
conduct regular orientation and awareness seminars with crew 
to educate them on ways to identify and report suspected 
trafficking victims onboard.  Often, shipping companies 
assist in facilitating the repatriation of minors by offering 
discounted fares. 
 
¶H.  The Secretary of Justice is the Chairperson of the 
Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. 
 
The DOJ has an existing Task Force on the Protection of Women 
Against Abuse, Exploitation and 
Discrimination, as well as a Task Force on Child Protection 
to address violation cases against women and children. 
 
The Anti-Illegal Recruitment Coordinating Councils (AIRCCs) 
serve as a venue at the grassroots level for consultation and 
information sharing to map out strategies in improving the 
anti-illegal recruitment programs of the government. 
 
The Sub-Committee on Human Trafficking of the National Law 
Enforcement Coordinating Committee (NALECC) meets regularly 
for data sharing on human trafficking cases and adopting 
measures to improve coordination. 
 
Local Councils for the Protection of Children exist at the 
provincial, city, municipality and village levels to assist 
in identifying conditions related to child abuse, neglect, 
and exploitation, and to facilitate immediate responses to 
reported cases of child abuse and exploitation. 
 
Other initiatives include:  the PNP has women and children's 
desks in various precincts; the POEA has its Anti-Illegal 
Recruitment Branch; and the NBI has its Violence Against 
Women and Children Desk. 
 
Both the Office of the Ombudsman and the Presidential 
Anti-Graft Commission pursue official corruption.  In January 
2005, President Arroyo appointed a new anti-corruption czar, 
a former Acting Secretary of Justice who was personally 
involved in numerous anti-trafficking initiatives, including 
the designation of four specialized prosecutors. 
 
¶I.  The Philippines participates in international efforts to 
prevent, monitor, and control trafficking.  Having completed 
Phase I of an agreement with the United Nations Center for 
International Crime Prevention, Office for Drug Control and 
Crime Prevention (CICP/ODCCP) to gather information on 
organized criminal groups involved in trafficking, the DSWD 
now is implementing an 18-month Phase II project to provide 
capacity building for service providers in havens for women 
and children and rehabilitate trafficked victims by providing 
full security and financial assistance, non-formal training, 
and establishing link-ups with the business community for 
possible internship programs. 
 
The Philippines is a member of the 16-country Global 
Commission on International Migration (GCIM), and one of only 
five countries to participate in the drafting of the 
commission's mandate.  Created in September 2002, the 
organization aims to enlarge the issue of migration on the 
global agenda, analyze gaps in current approaches to 
migration, and present recommendations to the UN on how to 
strengthen national, regional, and global governance of 
international migration.  DOLE Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas 
serves on the organization's commission.  GCIM's first 
meeting took place in Stockholm, Sweden on February 26-27, 
¶2004. 
 
(Mission has requested that the DFA provide additional 
information regarding government participation in 
trafficking-related international and regional meetings in 
¶2004.  We will provide this information to G/TIP when we 
receive it.) 
 
¶J.  The government has a national plan to address TIP, 
created with NGO input.  IACAT implements the plans involving 
DoJ, DSWD, DOLE, and other agencies.  The national plan is 
provided to all relevant agencies. 
 
¶K.  All agencies involved in IACAT have shared 
responsibilities for developing and implementing 
anti-trafficking programs.  As co-chair of IACAT, the DOJ 
ensures the protection of persons accused of trafficking, 
provides access to free government or NGO legal assistance, 
and trains select prosecutors in handling trafficking-related 
cases.  DSWD takes the lead in implementing rehabilitative 
and protective programs for trafficked persons and provides 
victims with counseling and temporary shelter.  It also has 
developed a system for accreditation among NGOs in order to 
establish centers and programs for intervention at the 
community level. 
 
============================================ 
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
============================================ 
 
¶4. (SBU) The answers below are keyed to the format contained 
in Ref E, Para 20. 
 
¶A.  On May 26, 2003, President Arroyo signed into law R.A. 
9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.  It is 
landmark legislation in protecting women and children from 
sexual exploitation and forced labor.  The law affirms the 
government's resolve to prevent and suppress the illegal 
trade in persons, especially women and children, and carries 
penalties not only against traffickers but also against users 
or buyers of victims. 
 
In addition to the anti-trafficking law, the government uses 
several laws to prosecute traffickers, including the Migrant 
Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act (R.A. 8042), which gives 
the government authority to combat illegal recruiting; the 
Mail-Order Bride Law (R.A. 6955), which makes it unlawful 
under exploitive circumstances for Filipino women to marry 
foreign men; the Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995 (R.A. 
8043), which ensures the protection of Filipino children from 
abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and/or sale; the Special 
Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and 
Discrimination Act (R.A. 7610), which establishes penalty for 
traffickers; and the Anti-Child Labor Law (R.A. 9231), which 
prohibits the employment of children below 15 except when 
granted special permission by DOLE and guarantees the 
protection, health, and safety of child workers. 
 
¶B.  The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 imposes harsh 
penalties on persons engaged in trafficking.  The law 
distinguishes three types of violations: participating in the 
direct act of trafficking, acts that promote trafficking, and 
acts of qualified trafficking.  The penalty for a direct act 
is a fine of P1 million to P2 million (17,800 USD- 35,600 
USD) and 20 years imprisonment; promotion of trafficking 
through falsification of documents and tampering with 
certificates carries up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine 
of P500,000 to P1 million (8,900 USD-17,800 USD).  The 
maximum penalty is applied if the victim is a child, if 
conducted on a large scale, or if the crime involves military 
or law enforcement agencies and public officers or employees, 
which calls for life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to 
P5 million.  Those who engaged the services of trafficked 
persons for prostitution, or qualified trafficking, face 
penalties of between six months of community service and a 
fine of P50,000 (890 USD) to a maximum of one-year 
imprisonment and a fine of P100,000 (1,780 USD). 
 
¶C.  Under R.A. 8353 (the Anti-Rape Law of 1997), the penalty 
for rape is life imprisonment to death.  Under R.A. 7877 (the 
Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995), any person who violates 
the provisions of the act shall be penalized by imprisonment 
of not less than one month or more than six months, or a fine 
of up to P20,000 (400 USD) or both fine and imprisonment. 
 
¶D.  In August 2004, then-Acting Secretary of Justice 
Merceditas Gutierrez signed Department Order No. 326 
stipulating that four specific DOJ prosecutors would focus 
exclusively on TIP cases and should complete preliminary 
investigations within 60 days.  Observers saw the signing of 
Order No. 326 as a positive event in the government's 
anti-TIP effort. 
 
The DOJ is now in the process of prosecuting six trafficking 
cases.  Up to six additional cases are in preliminary stages 
of filing.  The primary case involves five female victims, 
three of whom are minors, trafficked internally and forced 
into prostitution.  Courts have not yet rendered a verdict on 
any cases under the 2003 law, however, and so no one has 
served time for trafficking under this law, although there 
have been convictions under related legislation, such as 
child abuse and illegal recruitment. 
 
The government has a poor system of collecting and 
maintaining data on criminal activity in general.  The lack 
of data is not unique to human trafficking. 
 
Specific trafficking-related cases filed by the DOJ (many 
still in the process of investigation), include: 
 
--Four cases under R.A. 7610 for Child Prostitution, all now 
in trial; 
 
--One case under R.A. 7610 for Child Prostitution, still in 
preliminary investigation; 
 
--Three cases under R.A. 9208 (TIP Law) for Child 
Trafficking,  all in preliminary investigation or 
reinvestigation (due to motion filed by accused); 
 
--One case under R.A. 8042 for illegal recruitment, now in 
trial status. 
 
¶E.  NGOs report that organized crime syndicates hailing from 
Japan and China control most of the sex industry in Manila. 
Employment agencies are involved in much of the 
trafficking both within the country and to overseas 
destinations.  They may also have a role in trafficking of 
persons into the country.  In addition, these agencies may be 
involved in legitimate recruitment of personnel, making it 
particularly challenging to identify illegal recruitment, as 
the line between "good" and "bad" agencies becomes blurred. 
Other recruiters may be relatives or neighbors, while some 
parents and guardians sell their children into bondage.  In 
many cases, trafficking syndicates use Filipino women in 
their mid-40s or older to seek out victims, since older women 
are believed to be the least likely to harm younger women. 
 
¶F.  The government actively investigates cases of 
trafficking-related offenses, but is hampered by scarce 
resources.  The principal investigative agencies are the BI, 
NBI, and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. 
The BI ensures that all foreign nationals within its 
territorial jurisdiction comply with existing laws to ensure 
the protection of women and children against commercial 
sexual exploitation.  In July 2003, the NBI created the 
Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTRAD) to investigate 
trafficking-related cases.  Special investigative techniques 
include electronic surveillance, asset information gathering, 
and undercover operations.  In January 2004, AHTRAD arrested 
a Japanese national and his Filipina companion who issued 
fake Artist Record Books (ARB) to two women recruited to work 
as entertainers in Japan.  The NBI filed charges of illegal 
recruitment and falsification of public documents against the 
suspects, who were detained but were later granted bail. 
Their case is pending. 
 
¶G.  Please refer to Para three, section C, for a full listing 
of recent training. 
 
¶H.  The government cooperates with other governments in the 
investigation and prosecution of TIP cases.  The total number 
of cooperative investigations is not available.  In September 
2004, the government, through its Embassies in Brunei and 
Malaysia, collaborated with the Brunei Immigration 
authorities leading to the rescue and repatriation of two 
Filipina workers, who were trafficked to Brunei and were 
forced to become sex workers.  Also in September, the 
government sought the help of Malaysian officials to 
investigate the case of three Filipinas, who were trafficked 
to Sabah, Malaysia as sex workers.  The Malaysian police 
conducted a raid on the brothel in search for the Filipinas, 
which forced the owners to release and repatriate the victims. 
 
¶I.  The government has not yet extradited persons charged 
with trafficking from other countries nor has it extradited 
its own nationals charged with such offenses, although the 
government agreed in one case to extradite Filipinos 
allegedly involved in child abuse-related offenses to the 
U.S.  The Philippines has extradition treaties with numerous 
countries.  Under the terms of the 2003 anti-trafficking law, 
trafficking in persons is an extraditable offense. 
 
¶J.  There is no evidence establishing government involvement 
in or tolerance of trafficking on a local and institutional 
level.  However, government officials (such as customs 
officers, border guards, immigration officials, local police 
or others) allegedly often receive bribes from traffickers or 
otherwise assist in their operations. 
 
¶K.  No officials have been charged directly with trafficking. 
 
¶L.  The government continues to cooperate with the USG in 
prosecuting American nationals under the terms of the PROTECT 
Act and related statutes, mostly for engaging in sex or 
planning to engage in sex with minors.  As of late 2004, five 
American nationals have been prosecuted under the PROTECT Act 
for crimes involving a Philippine nexus. 
 
(Mission is checking for further information on government 
prosecutions and/or extradition of foreign nationals for sex 
tourism.) 
 
¶M.  The Government has signed and ratified the following 
international instruments: 
 
--Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons 
and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others: 
ratified in September 1952; 
 
--International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic 
in Women and Children: ratified in September 1954; 
 
--International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic 
in Women of Full Age:  ratified in September 1954; 
 
--ILO Convention 105 on the Abolition of Forced Labor: 
ratified in November 1960; 
 
--United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms 
of Discrimination Against Women:  ratified in May 1981; 
 
--United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: 
ratified in September 1990; 
 
--UN International Convention on the Protection of the Rights 
of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families: 
ratified on July 1995; 
 
--Oslo Agenda of Action on Child Labor:  ratified in December 
1991; 
 
--1996 Stockholm Declaration and Agenda for Action Against 
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children:  ratified in 
December 1992; 
 
--ILO Convention 182 Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate 
Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor: 
 ratified in October 2000; 
 
--Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in 
Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the 
Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime:  ratified 
in October 2001; 
 
--The Optional Protocol on the Suppression of Trafficking in 
Persons Especially Women and Children:  ratified in October 
2001; 
 
--Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child 
Prostitution and Child Pornography supplementing the 
Convention on the Rights of the Child:  ratified in April 
2002; 
 
--UN Convention on Transnational Crime:  ratified in May 2002; 
 
--ILO Convention 29 Concerning Forced Labour: signed by 
President Arroyo on January 14, 2005, pending Senate 
ratification. 
 
=================================== 
PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
==================================== 
 
¶5. (SBU) The answers below are keyed to the format contained 
in Ref E, Para 21. 
 
¶A.  The government assists victims by providing temporary 
residency status, relief from deportation, shelter, and 
access to legal, medical and psychological services. 
Additional protective services include telephone hotlines for 
reporting abused/exploited cases of women and children. 
 
The DSWD's Residential Care unit provides 24-hour residential 
group care to children on a temporary basis to facilitate 
healing, recovery, and reintegration with their families and 
communities.  Currently, 49 centers cater to an average of 80 
children per center, an increase of ten centers since last 
year.  Substitute homes, or havens, are used to address the 
needs of women victims of trafficking and other forms of 
abuse.  At present, 14 substitute homes provide shelter for 
over 1,100 women and their children, an increase of one since 
last year. 
 
Crisis intervention and child protection units operate in 
many public hospitals throughout the country.  The crisis 
units also provide telephone counseling, conduct rescue 
operations, and provide overnight facilities and referral 
services for longer-term shelters.  Women and Children 
Protection Units in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals 
offer medical services and psychological counseling to 
victims of violence.  The Philippine General Hospital in 
Manila evaluates and treats TIP victims on behalf of the 
government. 
 
The Philippines AIDS Prevention and Control Act requires 
documented OFWs to participate in a HIV/AIDS seminar as part 
of the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar.  Actual testing 
takes place only upon the request of the OFW or if required 
by the country of destination, especially for sea-based 
workers.  The law does not provide mandatory HIV/AIDS 
screening for trafficking victims.  However, the rate of 
HIV/AIDS in the Philippines remains extremely low, though 
often underreported.  UNAIDS estimates that 10,000 people, or 
.012% of the population, is HIV positive, though there are 
concerns that this figure could grow quickly.  Official DOH 
statistics show 2,200 reported cases. 
 
¶B.  The Philippine Ports Authority's Gender and Development 
(GAD) Focal Point Program, an agency under the DOTC, provides 
the building and amenities for a halfway house, managed by 
VFF, a local NGO.  Activities of the halfway house staff 
include regular inspection of the different port areas, 
assistance to possible victims of traffickers and victims of 
illegal recruitment, information dissemination, and basic 
orientation seminars. 
 
In November 2003, VFF launched the Multi-Sectoral Alliance 
Against Trafficking in Persons to promote cooperation and 
sustain partnership among government, non-government 
organizations, the private sector, and civil society. 
Government partners include the DOJ, DOLE, DFA, DILG, DSWD, 
National Police Commission, PPA, and the Commission on Human 
Rights.  DSWD provides limited funding to accredited NGOs to 
help meet the basic needs of victims, such as food, clothing, 
medicine, and legal services.  With assistance from DFA, DSWD 
establishes arrangements with NGOs in other countries to 
provide distressed OFWs with temporary shelter, counseling, 
and medical assistance. 
 
In general, NGOs cannot rely on government funding.  They 
typically turn to foreign governments, foreign and domestic 
religious groups, third-country and multinational donor 
agencies, and private foundations.  However, the government 
is highly aware of the value of NGOs in combating 
trafficking, and routinely seeks cooperation. 
 
¶C.  Port personnel refer victims, as well as domestic workers 
detained at port police stations, to the halfway houses run 
by the VFF.  The DSWD also refers cases of physical and 
verbal abuse against domestic workers to VFF for 
psycho-social intervention and short-term care until the 
victims have been repatriated.  In November 2004, VFF 
launched a new halfway house in Matnog in Southern Luzon. 
This is VFF's fourth halfway house, in addition to those in 
Manila, Davao, and Batangas, and is similarly in coordination 
with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).  Halfway house 
staff provides direct services to trafficked victims in 
ports, including temporary shelter, referral and 
repatriation, and counseling 
 
¶D.  The 2003 anti-trafficking law recognizes trafficked 
persons as victims and does not penalize them for crimes 
related to the acts of trafficking or for obeying 
traffickers, regardless of their consent to the intended 
exploitation.  Police sometimes bring charges of vagrancy 
against alleged prostitutes. 
 
¶E.  Yes, the government actively encourages victims to assist 
in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking and 
related crimes.  Victims can file civil suits or seek legal 
action against traffickers.  Pursuant to the Rape Victim 
Assistance and Protection Act, an all-female team of police 
officers, examining physicians and prosecutors, must handle 
investigations of offenses committed against women.  In the 
case of trafficked children, the Special Protection of 
Children Act and the Rule on Examination of a Child Witness 
mandate that only a single panel interview will be conducted 
to avoid the damaging effect of feeling re-victimized through 
a series of repeated questioning.  All fines imposed by the 
courts on the offenders accrue to a Trust Fund administered 
by IACAT, dedicated to preventing acts of trafficking, 
protecting and rehabilitating victims, and reintegrating 
trafficked persons into the community. 
 
¶F.  Under the Witness Protection, Security, and Benefit 
Program, the DOJ offers protection to witnesses from 
reprisals and economic dislocation by providing security 
protection, immunity from criminal prosecution, housing, 
livelihood expenses, travel expenses, medical benefits, 
education to dependents, and job security.  However, some 
witness protection participants have complained of 
insufficient security and of abusive guards.  Moreover, due 
to lack of resources to fund the program, many who would like 
to participate cannot.  Many other potential witnesses may 
not be aware of the existence of this program. 
 
¶G.  Please refer to Para three, section C, for a full listing 
of recent training. 
 
The BI is also conducting periodic training on basic 
immigration laws and procedure for immigration officers and 
agents in the field and other personnel involved in operation 
procedures.  Training on anti-trafficking in persons is now 
incorporated in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) 
for consular staff, as well as Foreign Service officers and 
attaches who will be posted to foreign missions and 
consulates.  ILO and the government's Foreign Service 
Institute (FSI) are developing an anti-trafficking in persons 
training module.  The training module (in CD format) will 
benefit Foreign Service officers of DFA who will be posted 
and those who are already posted but unable to undergo 
anti-trafficking training through PDOS. 
 
¶H.  The DFA and the OWWA assist repatriated Filipino workers 
who are victims of trafficking.  The OWWA's Halfway Home 
program provides temporary shelter, transport services, 
financial assistance, and counseling services through a 
network of NGOs.  From January to December 2004, OWWA 
repatriated 1824 documented workers, many of whom came from 
the Middle East, including Iraq (after the government banned 
new employment in Iraq for OFWs).  The DSWD, working with 
DOLE, and DOH, provides protective custody, recovery and 
healing services for victims.  Services include organization 
of support groups, psychological and psychiatric 
interventions, medical, legal and livelihood services, 
provision of limited financial assistance, and educational 
assistance. 
 
¶I.  The Philippines has a vibrant local and international NGO 
community, many of which work directly with trafficking 
victims.  The most active are: 
 
--Coalition Against Trafficking in Women - Asia Pacific 
(CATW-AP).  CATWAP is an international network of feminist 
groups, organizations and individuals fighting the sexual 
exploitation of women.  The coalition brings attention to 
trafficking in women and girls, prostitution, pornography, 
sex tourism, and bride selling, mainly through media 
campaigns and policy advocacy.  It provides preventive 
education program on migration and trafficking at the 
community and grassroots level and conducts dialogues with 
government agencies such as the POEA, DOLE, and DSWD on 
preventive and curative measures.  Services include referring 
trafficking cases to member and partner organizations for 
legal, counseling and support services and documentation of 
trafficking cases based on the Human Rights Information and 
Documentation System used by a global network of 
organizations concerned with human rights issues; 
--VFF focuses on the promotion of child welfare, especially 
migrant working children and is active on the issue of 
domestic trafficking of women and children.  It provides 
24-hour services for victims, including the operation of 
several temporary shelters, counseling, employment referrals, 
training, and advocacy.  Staff positioned at port arrival 
areas identify and intercept probable victims of trafficking 
as they disembark ships.  Through funding assistance from The 
Asia Foundation and the USG, VFF spearheaded the creation of 
a Multi-Sectoral Network Against Trafficking (MSNAT), a 
national network committed to provide immediate and 
appropriate response mechanisms to prevent trafficking, 
investigate and prosecute offenders, and protect, rescue, 
recover, and reintegrate victims, especially women and 
children; 
 
--Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).  TUCP is 
the largest trade union network in the Philippines.  The TUCP 
forges coalitions with various labor groups in its efforts to 
promote and protect the rights and welfare of workers and 
other disadvantaged groups, including women, youth and 
children, and migrant workers.  Its Women's Bureau is 
particularly active in anti-trafficking initiatives, such as 
public information and media campaigns, database collection 
and documentation, provision of legal assistance to victims, 
and networking.  With funding support from the American 
Center for International Labor Solidarity and the USG, TUCP 
conducted an anti-trafficking project establishing a 
coalition of private sector organizations that will 
coordinate with the government to ensure the implementation 
of activities on trafficking in persons; 
 
--American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS). 
 ACILS, active in Philippines since 1969, has an extensive 
network in government, NGOs, trade unions, academia, and the 
business community.  ACILS addresses labor issues, including 
irregular migration and trafficking in persons.  In 2003, 
ACILS established a multi-sectoral Technical Working Group 
(TWG) to assist trafficking victims, monitor trafficking 
developments, process inquiries and complaints, and initiate 
filing of trafficking cases.  TWG is composed of 37 
organizations including 18 national government agencies, plus 
19 trade union, NGOs, and advocacy groups; 
 
--Development Action for Women Network (DAWN).  DAWN 
addresses the concerns of Filipino women migrants in Japan as 
well as the growing number of Japanese-Filipino children 
(JFCs).  Almost 90 percent of overseas Filipino workers in 
Japan are female entertainers, making them vulnerable to 
trafficking and sexual exploitation.  In coordination with 
its DAWN-Japan volunteers, the local branch assists JFCs 
abandoned by their Japanese fathers; 
 
--Women's Legal Bureau (WLB).  WLB is a feminist legal NGO 
composed of lawyers, academics, and members of other 
professions.  It provides legal services to victim and 
survivors of violence against women and conducts education 
and information campaigns to raise public awareness on 
women's issues.  Other programs include representation of 
women in judicial proceedings, training of law enforcers and 
members of the legal profession on gender sensitivity, 
empowering communities to respond to feminist issues 
especially those involving violence against women, and 
working with women's groups toward promoting human rights; 
 
--Third World Movement Against the Exploitation of Women 
(TWMAEW).  TWMAEW addresses the needs of children and women 
in prostitution and other victims of sexual exploitation 
through shelters and support centers.  It offers skills 
training, livelihood assistance, and psycho-social 
intervention.  In collaboration with UNICEF and DepEd, it 
conducted awareness-raising campaigns on sexual abuse for 
13,291 elementary pupils.  Social workers, educators, and 
survivors of sexual abuse facilitated the workshops; 
--Kanlungan Center Foundation (KCF).  Kanlungan works with 
OFWs and their families in addressing the problems of migrant 
workers.  It provides legal and welfare assistance, feminist 
counseling, temporary shelter, and education and training. 
Courses include Basic Migrants, Orientation, Migrant Rights 
and Legal Remedies, and Gender Awareness and Sensitivity. 
Kanlungan also intervenes at the grassroots level and 
addresses the psycho-social and economic causes and effects 
of migration by forging partnerships with other organizations 
at the community level; 
 
--End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the 
Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT).  ECPAT 
campaigns to raise general public awareness in tourism, the 
travel industry, and high-risk communities on the issue of 
children victims of sexual abuse and commercial sexual 
exploitation.  ECPAT is a member of the Special Committee for 
the Protection of Children under the Department of Justice 
and works with local government units in major provinces and 
cities, other NGOs, and church-based organizations. 
 
============================= 
&Heroes8 and &Best Practices8 
============================= 
 
¶6.  (U) Mission,s choices of &Heroes8 and &Best 
Practices8 follow: 
 
Heroes: 
-- Lourdes G. Balanon, Undersecretary for Policy and 
Programs, DSWD.  Balanon has been a champion of the rights of 
women and children, and has been at the forefront of 
government efforts to counter TIP and end child sex tourism. 
Balanon is an excellent public speaker, and has been able to 
highlight the importance of international cooperation in the 
effort to end child sex tourism while providing concrete 
insights based on the experience of the Philippines.  She 
values highly the importance of leveraging NGO efforts with 
those of the government in combating  TIP.  On October 20, 
2004, Balanon represented the government at a USG-sponsored 
anti-child sex tourism conference held on the margins of the 
UN General Assembly. 
-- Patricia Sison-Arroyo, Executive Director, IJM's 
Operational Field Presence.  Arroyo oversees investigations, 
interventions, and litigation.  Working with government and 
NGO contacts, she participates in undercover operations, 
rescue and rehabilitation of victims, and prosecution of 
traffickers.  Prior to joining IJM, she litigated labor and 
family law cases with a private law firm.  Arroyo is a highly 
effective lawyer, is dedicated to combating TIP, and is an 
important Mission contact.   She is currently playing a key 
role in implementing a USG-sponsored project focused on 
assisting IJM in its investigative and prosecutorial efforts. 
 
-- Maria Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, President and founding 
member, Visayan Forum Foundation.  Oebanda founded VFF in 
1991 to rescue victims of trafficking, especially young 
migrant workers.  VFF now operates four halfway houses in 
port areas of Manila, Davao, Batangas, and Matnog, where it 
provides temporary shelter, counseling, and information to 
trafficking victims.  In addition, VFF refers cases to CIDG 
for further investigation and eventual prosecution.  Oebanda 
works closely with Mission staff in combating TIP, and is 
currently overseeing two G/Tip-funded grants in Manila and 
Davao.  She is highly regarded by Mission personnel and in 
the Philippines. 
 
 
Best Practices: 
 
Government cooperation with the private sector and targeted 
NGOs manifests itself as a best practice.  Thanks in part to 
a USG grant, for example, the NGO VFF operates four shelters 
for victims at major ports, including in Manila and Davao. 
The PPA, police and shipping companies -- including the 
Philippines, largest passenger shipping company WG & A -- 
identify victims transiting the port and turn them over to 
VFF, which provides on-site housing and protection.  VFF then 
works with police to facilitate investigations and with DSWD 
to repatriate and counsel victims, and take measures to avoid 
re-trafficking.  At the Davao shelter alone, VFF serves up to 
45 victims a week, mostly women and girls on their way to 
imagined jobs in Manila, but also men and boys.  This example 
of public-private sector coordination is inspiring and 
something we see as a best practice. 
Mussomeli