Legarda to Gov’t: Make New Anti-Trafficking Law Work

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today renewed her call for the application of more stringent penalties under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (R.A. 10364) against perpetrators of the crime.

Legarda, principal sponsor of the said law, made the call in support of the overseas Filipino workers who joined the Walk for Freedom in Los Angeles, California to mark the National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the United States.

“Approximately 2,000 Filipinos fall prey into trafficking each year. Behind these numbers are stories of individuals whose freedom of choice is impaired by desperation or helplessness, thus rendering them vulnerable to exploitation. Victims are subjected to forced labor, domestic servitude and forced marriage, organ removal and sale, sex trade, and exploitation of children,” she said.

“Our goal is to ensure that Filipinos will no longer be subjected to these forms of slavery or indecent work. Through the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, human traffickers will be deprived of the legal loopholes that have allowed them to escape prosecution and conviction in the past. This will help us achieve greater degree of success in our fight against trafficking in persons,” she added.

The Senator noted that improved strategies to arrest human traffickers and impede various acts of trafficking should now be in place since the law provides for the creation of a permanent Secretariat to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking that will primarily collect comprehensive criminal justice data on trafficking in persons and will train prosecutors and law enforcers.

The law also improves institutional mechanisms and responses to human trafficking by strengthening policies, improving enforcement and enhancing inter-agency coordination both at the local and international levels.

Moreover, it expands the enumeration of acts that promote trafficking and covers attempted trafficking and accessory or accomplice liability.

“Trafficking in persons is a complex problem and trafficking modes and patterns continue to evolve over time as perpetrators of the crime seek to outflank policies and regulations of government. We have already improved the law. The vital step now is to strengthen enforcement and prosecution,” Legarda concluded.

PRO3 DRUG BUST NETS FOUR

 CAMP OLIVAS, CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA- After the successful buy bust operation of PNP personnel which resulted to the seizure of 182 million pesos worth of Shabu from a Chinese National last November and arrest of a Taiwanese National and discovery of his illegal drug laboratory last December 2013, Police Regional Office 3 under the stint of PCSUPT RAUL D PETRASANTA, RD, PRO3 once again proved that PRO3 is stern in its campaign against illegal drugs as various accomplishments on drug- supply reduction strategy were accomplished by PRO3 through series of drug operations conducted by the different provincial police offices within the region.

 

          On January 11, 2014, elements of Jaen Police Station implemented Search Warrants Nr 02-14 and 01-14 against Mervin BULANAN y De Leon and Virgilio BARTOLOME @ Ver FOR Violation of Sec 5 and 11 of RA 9165 issued by Hon Celso Baguio, Exec Judge RTC Gapan City at their residence located at Brgy Sapang Jaen, Nueva Ecija which resulted in the confiscation of twenty three (23) pcs of heat sealed plastic transparent sachets containing suspected shabu with estimated street value of Php 300,000.00 from Teresita BARTOLOME and one (1) pc heat sealed plastic transparent sachet also containing suspected shabu and digital weighing scale from the possession of BULANAN.        

 

          Both suspects and seized evidence are now under the custody of Jaen Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

 

Likewise, On January 4, 2013, elements of Balagtas Municipal Police Station arrested Hector FUENTES y Mariano and Janel VERGARA y Estrella for Violation of RA 9165.  

 

Based on reports that reached this Office, at around 10:00 AM of said date, Balagtas MPS received a report that  suspected shabu was being packed by a certain @ “Hector” at San Lorenzo Street, Barangay Borol 1^st.  MAIDSOTG operatives immediately proceeded at said place and suspects were caught red handed.

 

Confiscated from the suspects’ possessions are the following:  a)-one (1) piece of medium heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected “shabu” weighing 0.5193 grams; b)-one (1) piece of small heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected “shabu” weighing 0.0530 grams; c)-one (1) piece of medium heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected “SHABU” weighing 0.0368 grams; d)-one (1) piece of medium heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected Dried Marijuana Fruiting weighing 0.1135 grams; e)-Two (2) pieces of medium heat sealed transparent plastic sachets with residue suspected to be “SHABU” ; f)- Five (5) pieces of medium heat sealed transparent plastic sachets g)-One (1) piece of aluminum foil strip containing crystalline substance suspected to be “SHABU” ;h)-Two (2) pieces of disposable lighters;  i)-One (1) piece improvised burner ; j)-One (1) piece of Shabu paraphernalia (bottle cap with wire); k)-One (1) piece improvised water pipe ; l)–One (1) piece of scissor; m)-One (1) piece improvised pipe with containing 0.25501 grams of partially burned marijuana residue; and n)-One (1) piece weighing scale.

 

The arrested suspects and the confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to Bulacan Provincial Crime Laboratory Office for examination while appropriate criminal complaint is now being prepared for filing at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Malolos City, Bulacan.

        

             PCSUPT PETRASANTA once again lauded the operating troops for their successful anti- illegal drug operations and said that series of operations on drug- supply reduction strategy will be carried out in the coming days to maximize efforts to eradicate the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region.