PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) —The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) is set to conduct a second voyage to determine the routes of Palawan’s irregular migration corridors and strengthen efforts to combat human trafficking in the country.
Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said that it is the second leg of IACAT’s mission after it was launched in 2024 in the ZamBaSulTa region, covering the provinces of Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
Despite wanting to conduct the voyage continuously in a year, the expenses in resources and coordination are some of the challenges considered.
“Kailangan natin tanggapin, kilalanin na may problema. Hindi pwede maging defensive o in denial na may ganoong problema. Kung ganon ang ating mindset, hindi natin mauumpisahan na malutas ang problema,” he said.
IACAT’s findings in irregular migration corridors, or known as southern backdoor using ZamBaSulTa as exit point, include challenges in economics, culture, geography, and local governance. The solution to the intersection of problems needs a collaborative approach among agencies.
The vital role of the local government units (LGU) is seen in addressing challenges in the ZamBaSulTa and is also expected to be observed in Palawan.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado believes that the onsite mission of the IACAT will increase the number of intensive collaborations with LGUs.
Prior to the takeoff of the voyage from April 22 to 26, IACAT organized a dialogue with stakeholders in relation to trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM) by sea in Palawan.
Aside from meeting the LGUs, Ty wants to see the local government’s efforts against human trafficking and bring closer coordination with IACAT. The team will take both land transportation and the sea vessel by the Philippine Coast Guard in visiting routes and towns in southern Palawan.
“Isa pa sa gusto namin matutunan ay ‘yong ruta. Ibang bagay na nandito kami at mararanasan namin mismo ‘yong mga ruta na dinaraanan ng mga kababayan natin na nais makalabas ng Pilipinas sa paraan nitong backdoor exit or irregular migration corridors in Palawan,” he said.
After completing their onsite mission in Palawan, IACAT plans to conduct a voyage to Balut Island in Sarangani province as a backdoor exit, followed by another trip to the ZamBaSulTa region.
Human Trafficking in Palawan
Lawyer Lara Cacal of the Provincial Government of Palawan and a member of the Provincial IACAT shared that some cases of human trafficking involve relatives as recruiters. The recent case of human trafficking was in February 2025, wherein two minors were sent to Coron for prostitution.
Aside from the challenge of how to help locals to bring back home due to limited financial capacity to reach the designated meetup point, the cooperation of some communities is also an issue to be addressed to solve the problem.
“Challenge pa, pagdating sa community, supposed to be ay barangay officials na ang magre-report. Kaso may kinikita rin sila from trafficker, ang hirap na mengganyo sila magsumbong kung may natatanggap silang pera from trafficker,” Cacal said, adding that it is also impossible to man all the shores of Palawan.
Most human trafficking cases in Palawan since 2023 involve recruitment for palm oil farming, according to Lt. Col. Raul Regala of the Palawan Provincial Police Office (PPO) Investigation and Detective Management Unit.
In May 2024, Malaysia recruited five victims from an indigenous community in Rizal town to work in the palm oil industry. Before their rescue, the victims endured three months of hard labor. A case has been filed against two suspects.
The Philippine National Police also vowed to further empower investigators and strengthen collaborations and coordinations among other agencies.
Even though government efforts have intercepted some human trafficking attempts and filed cases against them, the willingness of other victims to join traffickers is one of the challenges.
“Sa kanilang kahinaan ay minsan pumapayag na lang sila. Ang kagandahan diyan, sa batas natin ay maliwanag, consent is not a defense. Consent is not material. Kahit na ang biktima ay magpabiktima dahil gusto kumita kahit kapiranggot, mananagot pa rin ang nag-human traffic sa kaniya,” Ty said. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
