THE ESSENTIAL THING

Partnering in the anti-human trafficking cause

Ma Merceditas N Gutierrez, Ombudsman

Just last Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman signed an MOA with select cause-oriented groups, (the Visayan Forum, the Ateneo Human Rights Center or AHRC, and the International Justice Mission (IJM) so that they could lend their hand in the collective fight against the evil of human trafficking in our country.  Let me share with you my closing remarks on that occasion.

…. The Office of the Ombudsman, in view of its mandate to be tough on those who flout the laws on corruption, and who commit all forms of misconduct and dishonesty in office, is a natural target of individuals and groups that do not agree with its decisions.  These groups, ironically, may tell the world they are themselves involved in anti-corruption. They express their disagreement by employing all sorts of devices and tricks, including media releases, aimed at destroying our objectivity and undermining our effectiveness.

We have shown, however, that we can do what is expected of us despite the brickbats and criticisms.  We have even proved that we can exceed expectations; that we can resolve cases faster than before; that we can steadfastly pursue and make accountable all those who rob government and our people, and consistently deliver on our mandates to prosecute and secure conviction for wrongdoers as provided for by the statutes and the constitution.

In our anti-human trafficking efforts, similar resistance and criticisms confront us.  But we are holding fast and even try all the time to innovate and leverage our capabilities.  For instance, through the program dubbed “Tanodbayan Against Government Officials and Employees Involved in Trafficking (or TArGET),” we have been able to initiate the investigation and filing of appropriate complaints against several officials and employees. 

TArGET is a special unit composed of investigators and prosecutors tasked to build up and then prosecute cases against civil servants suspected of conniving with criminals and syndicates that engage in human trafficking.  TArGET was specifically designed to go after government personnel who aid in the recruitment, transport and exploitation of victims of human trafficking, knowing that this crime cannot be successfully committed without public officials facilitating its commission or emboldening those who plan and organize its commission.

There are of course many challenges that come our way.  But we in the Ombudsman, in tandem with our partners, always try our best to meet and overcome them.  In fact we plan to intensify in the coming months our crackdown against erring public personnel who collaborate in one way or another with criminals in this crime.  Through your support and expertise, and that of the general public who give us tips and leads, we expect to initiate more investigations, file more cases and successfully prosecute them.

Even now, our exploratory discussions, dialogues and initial exchanges of ideas have already created expectations that many substantive and procedural concerns regarding our human trafficking cases will be resolved promptly and favorably.  All this leads me to say that this partnership arrangement is a much welcome development.   

We are indeed very pleased with our partnership with the Visayan Forum, the Ateneo Human Rights Center and the IJM.  We consider this alliance a very important milestone in our campaign against public officials and employees who are, in betrayal of their office, themselves involved with criminal elements in human trafficking.  Through this partnership, we shall be able to strengthen, expand and harmonize our efforts, knowing that your assistance in the build-up of cases, or right up to the prosecutorial stage, is a critical input in the success of our overall work.

I applaud the Visayan Forum, the AHRC and the IJM and other partners for pushing this human trafficking-related anti-corruption agenda on all fronts.  I hope our own endeavors will really be complemented by the initiatives of others, including the cooperation of the general public, and that the day may not be far when, the evil of human trafficking being successfully contained and the vulnerable sectors of our society given viable alternative choices, the Philippines is taken out of the watchlist of countries where the incidence of human trafficking is high.■

Original published in the February 5-6, 2010 issue of Business Mirror.