The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) led the institution of a government alliance to handle cases of Trafficking in Persons (TIP), Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) on October 7.
Backed by the International Justice Mission (IJM), the IACAT led the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).
“We continue to deal with emerging trends in trafficking in persons and increasing cases of OSAEC due to the vulnerabilities we face as a nation. With this, the DOJ is firm in its resolve to combat this issue,” IACAT Undersecretary-In-Charge Nicholas Felix Ty stated.
The IACAT-OPG-OSG legal task force founded will tackle original, appealed, or offshoot cases related to TIP, OSAEC, and CSAEM which necessitate the services of the OSG or its representation as State legal counsel.
The MOA was signed in Makati City by Usec. Ty, Assistant Solicitor General (ASG) Thomas Laragan, and Officer-In-Charge Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, among others.
“This MOA commits us to work more closely towards our common goal: the stoppage of TIP and OSAEC cases,” ASG Sharon Decano said in a statement.
“Today is another prime example of the Philippines' commitment to fighting trafficking including OSAEC ... This is our way of telling each survivor that he or she is not alone,” IJM National Director Samson Inocencio Jr. declared.
Civil servants such as public officials and employees overseeing TIP, OSAEC, and CSAEM cases in the execution of their formally-recognized functions in safeguarding abuse victims and probing and/or prosecuting perpetrators.
“There is no better way to combat human trafficking and child exploitation other than through coordinated efforts and cooperation among government agencies, various sectors of society and concerned citizens. Together, we can certainly put an end to modern day slavery,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
