Pinoy overseas group educate Quirino residents on anti-trafficking law

By Thelma C. Bicarme

Saturday 18th of August 2012

MADDELA, Quirino, Aug 18 (PIA) -- Emigrant officers of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) conducted information and education campaigns on the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in several towns in Quirino.

The CFO educate people about the Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, this time in the municipalites of Diffun, Cabarroguis and Mandela on August 16 and 17, CFO Emigrant Services Office II Graciel Antonett A. Paguinto said.

“We send requests to the local government units to convene the local officials (barangay and municipal) for the conduct of community education program on migration and anti-human trafficking,” Paguinto said.

She said they target local officials because they believe that these leaders can be effective channel of information for their constituents.

“CFO has been operational since June 16, 1980 and it caters to emigrants of those who are leaving the country with immigrant visa,” Paguinto explained.

RA 9208 states that it is unlawful for any person to recruit, transfer, harbor, provide or receive a person by any means, including those done under the pretext of domestic or overseas employment or training or apprenticeship, for the purpose of prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage.

It is also unlawful to introduce or match for money, profit or material, economic or other consideration; offer or contract marriage, real or stimulated; undertake or organize tours and travel plans; maintain or hire; to adopt or facilitate the adoption for pornography and sexual exploitation.

Further, the act states, it is unlawful to transport or abduct a person by means of threat, force, fraud, deceit, violence, coercion or intimidation for the purposes of removal or sale or organs of said person.

Lastly, it is unlawful to recruit, transport or adopt a child to engage in armed activities in the country or abroad.

Any person found guilty of committing any of the said acts shall suffer penalties ranging from imprisonment of 15 to 20 years or life imprisonment and fines ranging from P1 to P10 million. (TCB-PIA2, Quirino)