Davao City and Mati City remain among the country’s areas with significant trafficking in persons (TIP) case incidence, according to the Department of Justice–Regional Prosecution Office 11 (DOJ-RPO 11).
Based on DOJ data covering 2003 to 2026, Davao City and Mati City are among the areas in the country with the highest incidence of trafficking in persons cases, highlighting the continuing need for intensified law enforcement, prosecution, and inter-agency efforts to combat human trafficking in the region.
During the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday, Regional Prosecutor Atty. Janet Grace B. Dalisay-Fabrero disclosed that 203 human trafficking and trafficking-related cases in the Davao Region are currently being prosecuted in court.
Fabrero said the figure includes both trafficking in persons (TIP) cases and related offenses that remain pending before the courts.
“As far as the cases that we have active in court, we have 203 cases,” she said.
Fabrero said that of the 203 active cases, 148 involve trafficking in persons (TIP). Three of these have already been decided, leaving 145 TIP cases still pending before the courts.
She said the remaining 58 cases involve trafficking-related offenses, including violations of Republic Act No. 7610, online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC), cyber trafficking, and other crimes connected to human trafficking.
Fabrero explained that these active cases have accumulated since 2019 and continue to undergo prosecution.
“Active, meaning to say, we are prosecuting them until now,” she said.
The regional prosecution office is also handling 11 ongoing case build-ups (CBUs) in coordination with law enforcement agencies before criminal charges are filed.
“Meaning to say, these are the cases that we handled together with the law enforcers for us to study, evaluate, assess, and then make sure that we secure the appropriate evidence before we file the case in court. So as of now, meron kaming pending na CBU, 11 cases,” Fabrero said.
Fabrero said that since 2019, DOJ-RPO 11 has disposed of 419 trafficking and trafficking-related cases, including 274 trafficking in persons cases. The remaining cases involved related offenses such as OSAEC, cyber trafficking, children used in armed conflict, and violations of Republic Act No. 7610.
Asked whether the cases are concentrated in specific areas, Fabrero said trafficking remains a regionwide concern.
“Regionwide tayo. We have cases from Davao and the other, we also have Panabo, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte,” she said.
