Davao city: The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has called for stronger case buildup and closer coordination among government agencies to improve prosecution of trafficking cases and protect victims from further exploitation. In a news release Monday, the CFO emphasized that Filipinos migrating overseas should be better informed and protected from risks associated with migration, including trafficking and illegal recruitment.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Anti-Child Online Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force, Prosecutors, Law Enforcement Agencies and Social Workers' Summit held in Davao City from Sept. 7 to 11, the CFO highlighted the important role it plays in the country's broader campaign against trafficking in persons (TIP), online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), and child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM). At the summit, the CFO also noted that no single government agency can effectively address the entire trafficking chain alone.
The discussions emphasized that anti-trafficking operations should not end with arrests, noting that investigators and prosecutors need to coordinate early to establish the facts, preserve evidence, identify the connections among perpetrators and victims, and develop cases that can withstand judicial scrutiny. Financial investigation was also highlighted as a way to strengthen trafficking cases, highlighting the need to follow money trails and identify assets connected to trafficking activities.
Trafficking cases involving Filipinos may cover recruitment, transportation, documentation, overseas employment or migration arrangements, and exploitation, involving multiple actors and jurisdictions. The CFO stated its role in the anti-trafficking campaign includes prevention, advocacy, and public information. Through its migration programs, it provides prospective migrants and their families with information to help them make informed decisions and recognize risks before leaving the country.
The summit also focused on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, as trafficking networks increasingly use digital platforms to recruit, groom, and exploit victims. A UNICEF-supported study estimated that at least 2 million Filipino children experienced online sexual abuse and exploitation in 2021, including abuse involving sexual images and videos. The study also showed that many victims did not report their experiences to authorities.
The CFO noted that information gathered through migration and community channels can help identify risks, while law enforcement, financial authorities, prosecutors, and social workers each contribute to investigation, evidence gathering, prosecution, and victim assistance. Breakout sessions tackled investigation, prosecution, victim protection, and emerging forms of online exploitation. Participants included representatives from the Bureau of Immigration, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Australian Federal Police, the National Police of the Netherlands, International Justice Mission, and other partner organizations.
The summit concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement and the renewal of commitments among regional stakeholders, including the Mindanao Development Authority, provincial governments of Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte, local governments of Mati City and Island Garden City of Samal, and the Department of Tourism-Davao. The CFO noted the importance of continued coordination, especially as trafficking has become increasingly digital and transnational.
