More funds needed in fight vs human traffickers

Relatives of victims of human trafficking. Thanks to Migrante for photo.

Okay, the Philippines has evaded going back on the Watch List of the United States Department of State’s monitoring of Trafficking of Persons.

Considering that the government has intensified export of Filipino workers overseas because it cannot provide jobs for them, continuing to avoid going back in the Watch List is a consolation, however small because the ideal situation is that there should be jobs available for Filipinos in the country so that the father or mother, son or daughter does not need to be far away from his or her family in a strange environment just to earn a living.

In 2010, the Philippines was on Tier2 Watch List, countries which have the most number of human trafficking victims and with less government effort to stop all forms of human trafficking.

In 2011, the Philippines was removed from the Watch List and has maintained it this year.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima takes the attitude of seeing the glass half-full:“Tier 2 is an important recognition of the country’s sustained and aggressive initiatives and programs to eliminate human trafficking. The Tier 2 status officially recognizes a country’s significant efforts to adhere to the benchmarks prescribed by the US State Department and meet the minimum standards.”

Sure, the State Department report took note that the Philippine government “demonstrated increased efforts to prevent human trafficking .”

The report noted that although the government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, “it is making significant efforts to do so.”

The report cited the increased funding of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) from the equivalent of $230,000 in 2010 to the equivalent of $1.5 million in 2011.”

The top recommendations of the Global Trafficking in Persons Report for the Philippines are to sustain the intensified efforts to investigate, prosecute and convict an increased number of both labor and sex traficking offenders both locally & overseas and increased the funding for anti-trafficking programs.

That is a big problem for IACAT now because as noted in the report, through intense lobbying by Justice Undersecretary Jovy Salazar, who is in-charge of IACAT, budget was increased from P25 million in 2011 to P50 million in 2012.

For the 2013 budget, IACAT is asking for P100 million. Feedback from the Department of Budget is that IACAT will only be given P40 million.

It doesn’t make sense.

Other recommendations of the GTIP report are for the Philippines to address the significant backlog of trafficking cases by developing mechanisms to track and monitor the status of cases filed with the DOJ and the trial courts and to conduct immediate and rigorous investigation of complaints implicating government officials and ensure accountability for leaders that fail to address trafficking-related corruption within their areas of jurisdiction.

The report also said there is a need to strengthen anti-trafficking training and capacity building programs for law enforcers and expand the use of victim processing centers to additional areas in the Phils and allow for victims to be processed and assisted in safe environment after a rescue operation.

The report also saw the need to increase mechanisms and resources to assist trafficking victims.

For a more successful persecution of traffickers, the GTIP recommended increase in funding for DOJ programs for the protection of witnesses and entry of trafficking victims into the Witness Protection Program.

We are talking here of people whose remittances keep the whole Philippine economy going. They are hailed as the “modern-day heroes.” The government can give substance to that platitude by increasing funding for their protection.

Phil & James Younghusband battle each other for the first time in CLEAR Dream Match

The teaser says: “you’ve always seen them playing for the same team, but ever wondered how it would be when they go head to head?” Philippine Azkals frontliners, the brothers Phil & James Younghusband, topbill one of the biggest charity football events of the year dubbed the CLEAR Dream Match. The big event is happening on August 25 yet but starting June 25, fans will have a say on who goes in Phil & James dream teams by voting for their favorite players at facebook.com/CLEAR.

A total of 50 football players have been recruited by CLEAR and the top 40 in the Facebook voting will be the ones drafted for the Dream Match. Some of those that have been nominated in the star-studded cast include Brazilian models and members of Socceroo F.C. Daniel Matsunaga and Fabio Ide; Andrew Wolff and Eric Tai from the Philippine Volcanoes; United Football League stars Anton del Rosario, Nate Burkey, Freddy Gonzales, Eric Dagroh; college stars Patrick Deyto (DLSU), Miko Mabanag (Ateneo), and Shirmar Felongco (UST); Kaya F.C. and Guam national team member Jonah Romero; celebrity host Paolo Bediones, members of Boys Night Out and other outstanding players in the local football scene.

Some pictures taken from the press conference:

CLEAR Dream Match

James & Phil Younghusband

Clear Dream Match

The brothers Younghusband in a light moment.

James & Phil Younghusband

“An all-star game is something that I have always wanted to do in the Philippines,” said James.

“Being able to mount such an event goes to show how much football has grown in the Philippines,” added Phil.

And it’s all for a good cause. Proceeds from the game will benefit Tuloy sa Don Bosco Foundation – the organization known for sending a football team to the Homeless World Cup.

We’re all excited for this game! :)

Bituon han Leyte 2012 Pageant Night

It was an evening of glitz and glamour as Leyte held the annual Bituon han Leyte 2012. Bituon han Leyte is the annual search for the best and the most graceful festival lead dancer as part of the celebration of the Leyte Pintados Kasadyaan Festival 2012.

pintados kasadyaan 2012 0027

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Read the rest of Bituon han Leyte 2012 Pageant Night



© Enrico Dee for BYAHILO, 2012. | Permalink | One Byahilo reader made a comment | Add to del.icio.us

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Official rumor mongering

Ramos

Why are high government officials so eager to release unverified information that later turn out to be false?

Spreading false information is not funny at all. Worse, it is coming from official sources.

Last Sunday, Benito Ramos, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, released to media the information that a Chinese vessel rammed a Philippine fishing boat, Axl John, last June 20 on the waters near Bolinao, Pangasinan.

Four of the eight fishermen aboard Axl John were rescued but one later died. Four are still missing.

How sure was Ramos that it was a Chinese vessel? He said that was according to the fishermen who saw the markings on the ship. Apparently the name was not written in Roman alphabet which Filipinos are familiar with.

The fishermen said they were expecting the vessel to rescue them and were shocked when they were hit and left adrift in the rough seas.

Based on that skimpy information, Ramos shared with members of media his thoughts: “That’s why it’s suspicious.”

He concluded that the ramming was done on purpose because he said, “If it was accidental, then they should have helped.”

With the Scarborough or Panatag shoal standoff winding down, reporters irresponsibly connected the incident to it describing the area of the incident as “north of Scarborough shoal.” Never mind if the disputed shoal is something like 180 nautical miles away.

The next day, having rested at the hospital, the fishermen were not sure anymore if it was really a Chinese vessel because they said they didn’t see any member of the crew. They also couldn’t tell the difference between Chinese characters from Japanese characters.

Here comes the Philippine Coast Guard saying that “it’s likely” the vessel that rammed AXL John was MV Peach Mountain, a Hongkong –registered bulk carrier.

Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, quoting a report from Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, said, “With a great degree of certainty, Philippine Navy was able to discount Peach Mountain.”

“The Philippine Navy was able to plot their route and their speed based on those parameters that we are able to compute and to determine with a great degree of certainty that it (Peach Mountain) was not responsible for the incident,” Lacierda explained adding that investigation by the Navy is ongoing.

Coast Guard officials also tried to undo the “damage” created by Ramos’ statement saying that it’s possible that the big vessel didn’t see the Axl John which was understandable given that it’s small, the weather was bad and visibility was poor.

This is not the first time that media and the public were given unverified information by government officials.

The National Union of Journalists of Philippines condemned statements by government officials saying Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani, who is reported to be in the custody of the Abu Sayyaf, is being suspected of having links with the al-Qaida terrorist network.

An official was quoted as saying that Atyani was seen as a “terrorist cell contact” citing the several interviews conducted by Atyani with slain al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden months before the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States.

“A government official maligning the reputation of a journalist simply because of guilt by association from stories that he/she legitimately gathered and reported is extremely irresponsible,” NUJP said.

We should also include Land Registration Authority Eulalio Diaz III who gave the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona a list of 45 properties allegedly owned by Corona. The prosecution, in turn, released it to media who went to town with the list.
It turned out later that correct number was only 21.

Government officials should be reminded that giving out false information to the public is as bad as blocking access to information. It’s rumor mongering. It’s a violation of “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees” which requires that “Public officials and employees shall perform and discharge their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence and skill.”

One also shudders to think that government decisions are made based on wrong information.

Manila Hotel 100th anniversary promo

Manila Hotel,the grand dame of luxe accommodations in the city, is turning 100 years old next month. And they’re offering a promo I can’t resist. Expect us to fall in line along with you:

P1,912.00 (flat rate) for the first 100 guests who will book…

Stay on the third night and pay only P100 (applicable for superior deluxe rooms and suites).

manila hotel

Isn’t it fab?

Mark your calendars & hope it won’t be fully-booked when you get there :)

Read also my previous posts about Manila Hotel:

Manila Revisited Room Package

Cowrie shells at the Cowrie Grill, Manila Hotel

Throughout its long history, the hotel has played host to various celebrities & dignitaries from Gen. Douglas MacArthur (whom a hotel suite is named after) to the Beatles and Muhammad Ali.