Anti-trafficking network takes in PIA-10 as partner

By Carina L Cayon

Saturday 21st of July 2012

DAVAO CITY, July 21 (PIA) -- The Regional Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Riacat-11) got the Philippine Information Agency-10 (PIA-11) as part of its partners in the Riacat Integrated Action Network (Riaction-11).

Riaction-11 represented by its chairperson, Regional Prosecutor Antonio Arellano and PIA-11 headed by Regional Director Efren F. Elbanbuena inked the partnership in a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed in time for the launch of the Riaction-11-Davao International Airport operating unit.

Different government agencies and private organizations in Davao Region organized Riaction-11 to combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP).

PIA-11 becomes a permanent member of the network and will be part of both the operations teams of the law enforcement unit (LEU) and the psycho-social unit (PSU), primarily making available public information teams whenever called on by heads of LEU and PSU.

Arellano said Riaction-11 was created for a more proactive approach in effectively preventing TIP and for a more efficient prosecution of TIP cases in court.

As lead agency of IACAT, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has strengthened the implementation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking Law, following a poor performance of the country in 2005 to 2009 with only 23 convictions, and placing the country at tier 2 watch list, he said.

The poor performance of the region from 2003 to 2010 with only three convictions, has also challenged Riacat-11 being at a prime entry and exit of Mindanao because of the presence of the Davao International Airport, Arellano said.

“We’re doing something, but we are not very successful in trying to get out of the watch list,” he told the media at the special edition of the Kapihan sa PIA held after the launch of the Riaction-11-DIA.

Aside from the creation of Riaction-11 in beefing up the anti-trafficking program in the region, training and seminars have been conducted for the members. Assistance has been extended to the local government units in setting up their own programs up to the barangay level, he said.

As to the outcome of the network’s enhanced efforts, Arellano said there were two convictions in 2011, both transpired in Davao City.

On the same year, Arellano said Riaction-11 and DOJ Anti-Trafficking Task Force have done lots of case build-ups with 16 already filed and pending in court, noting that 10 of the cases were from Davao City, one each from Digos City, Panabo City, Panabo and Compostela Valley and two from Davao del Sur.

For the protection program, he said rescue and interceptions have been done in June this year involving 111 TIP victims mostly in Davao City with 94 persons, Compostela Valley, six; Panabo City, two; Sultan Kudarat, 10; Manila, one; and Xiamen in China, five.

Arellano said they are planning to expand the network and to create clusters for each of the three main unit teams such as prevention, law enforcement, rehabilitation, and integration.

Aside from PIA-11, Riaction-11 has taken in the local government units of Davao Oriental and Panabo City as members through signing of MOA.

Arellano said they have set schedules to cover all cities and municipalities in the region before the year ends. (RGA/CLC-PIA11)

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