There is a notable rise in cases against trafficking-in-person in Davao Region according to Peter John T. Cabanilla, victim witness coordinator of the Department of Justice-Regional Prosecutor Office 11 (DOJ-RPO 11).
Cabanilla told media during the Kapihan sa NCCC on Friday at NCCC VP mall, that based on the record in Region 11, there are a lot of cases of sexual abuse filed for this year. He said online sexual abuse or exploitation of children was rampant specially during the height of the pandemic.
“Kay ang mga tao naa sa sulod sa balay, naa ta’y internet connection, and the perpetrators are online as well so mas dali ma-lure and daghan ang family specially tong mga low income family ang affected gyud sa pandemic. Mao nang mag resolve sila sa idea of selling their own children through online,” he added.
Gladys A. Credo, social welfare officer II and focal person for the Recovery and Reintegration Program For Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 11 (DSWD 11), said cases of sexual abuse involving children are being referred to their office.
She said this year DSWD 11 has conducted entrapment and rescue operations in the region.
“Ang nature of cases ani is the online sexual abuse or exploitation of children wherein nitaas tungod sa pandemic maskin ang restrictions nato karon niluag luag na but still naa gihapon,” she said.
She said DSWD has conducted one rescue operation in Davao City, three in Davao del Norte, and entrapment and rescue operations in Panabo City.
Kate Dianne Opimo, advocacy officer of Talikala, Inc., said there are also unreported cases of sexual abuse including against men.
“Nganong unreported? Because not all know na na-traffic sila mao na ang dapat campaign natin is awareness campaign about trafficking because wala sila kabalo na na traffic na sila. During our one community education, even men are victims of trafficking ug dinha lang nila nahibal-an during the community education that we gave to them. Others nalaman nila na traffic sila ay dahil tinatago nila dahil takot sila na malaman ng kanilang family and also because it is their source of income,” Opimo said.
Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) spokesperson Major Eudisan Gultiano said it is the role of PRO 11 to assist the DSWD and other concerned agencies in investigating trafficked persons.
