The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) stressed to the public against transacting with unlicensed non-government organizations (NGOs) to prevent cases of human trafficking.

This is after the rescue of 49 persons in Gen. Trias town, Cavite Province last September 19, 2015. The said persons, 17 are minors, are members of the Tagbanua tribe from Brgy. Malawig, Coron in Palawan Province and were victims of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

According to the assessment of the DSWD Field Offices IV-A, IV-B and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the said indigenous peoples (IPs) were recruited by the Bride of Jesus Christ Ministry International, Inc., a church based in Gen. Trias, Cavite claiming to be an NGO but is not licensed by the DSWD.

The IP groups were recruited in Coron town and were promised to continue schooling through a scholarship program.

“The public must be vigilant in terms of dealing with private organizations to help prevent cases of human trafficking. We encourage the public to report cases immediately to the DSWD so we can provide appropriate intervention towards recovery and reintegration of the victims to their family and community,” shared DSWD IV-A Regional Director Leticia Diokno.

Despite being enrolled in schools in Cavite, the said victims are reportedly being maltreated by the organization. The victims complained of not being fed properly, not getting enough sleep and not having house parents to supervise or guide them during their stay. The victims expressed their desire to return home but the church refused releasing them without paying PhP30,000 per person.

The victims, through their parents, sought the assistance of the NCIP, who reported the case to the DSWD.

Upon coordination with the NCIP, the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Gen. Trias and the barangay council of Buenavista, Gen. Trias, Cavite, the victims were rescued by the DSWD and provided assistance including transportation allowance and food packs.

Last September 21, the victims were transported back to Coron through C-130 as provided by the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The DSWD IV-B, through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Coron, will be providing stress debriefing sessions to the victims and will help facilitate the transfer of enrolment of the children in the said town. The NCIP, on the other hand, will file a trafficking case against the NGO.

Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, maintaining, harboring or receiving of persons, with or without the victim’s consent or knowledge, for the purpose of exploitation, prostitution, slavery and forced labor among others. The DSWD encourages the public to report suspected human trafficking cases to DSWD Hotline numbers 850-8380 or 0946-883-2208.#