Hiring women, child prostitutes now a crime

by Mayen Jaymalin The Philippine Star, May 27 2003

Men found guilty of engaging the services of women and child prostitutes now face life imprisonment or a fine of up to P2 million, according to a new law curbing human trafficking, especially women and children.

President Arroyo said the new law, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, should serve as a warning to people as well as parents who sell their children. "We know how to keep our environment safe for women and children by protecting their welfare," she said.

The anti-trafficking bill, principally authored by former first lady Sen. Luisa Ejercito, was signed into law by Mrs. Arroyo yesterday in a simple ceremony at Malacañang.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda were the bill’s co-sponsors. Women’s rights groups welcomed the new law, saying it would give women and children more protection against abuse. The bill was one of Mrs. Arroyo’s priority legislation.

Drilon clarified that the law does not criminalize prostitution but penalizes those who engage the services of women and children forced into prostitution. He said the objective of the new law was to put "modern-day slave traders out of business."

"Finally, we now have a law that will respect and protect the dignity of the Filipino. This law should put an immediate stop to the despicable activities of modern-day slave traders engaged in trafficking persons, particularly women and children," Drilon said in a statement.

The new law prescribed punishment also for trafficking women and children for pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude and debt bondage.

"It also expressly prohibits the so-called sex tours in the country and criminalizes the use of the Internet to promote prostitution and sexual exploitation," Drilon said.

The new law also provides "mandatory services," such as emergency shelters, appropriate housing and free legal and medical counsel, for victims. Foreign offenders face deportation after serving their sentences.

Authorities say young women are often lured with promises of a better life into becoming sex slaves or forced laborers in other countries. Earlier this month, the Bureau of Immigration ordered that all young Filipino women be questioned on departure from Manila following reports that human trafficking syndicates and illegal recruiters have been using Bangkok, Thailand to recruit women from the Philippines.

The women end up working without proper documents in the Middle East and Africa, and some are lured into the sex trade, Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo said.

Many of the women leave as tourists for Bangkok, where they’re met by recruiters and sent to countries such as Jordan and Ivory Coast, Domingo said. She didn’t provide numbers. — With Jose Rodel Clapano