• The IACAT warmly accepted the offer of support by the Kingdom of Netherlands, a member of the European Union bloc (EU), construct the Victim Processing Center (VPC) Pilot Project and improvement of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Database Enhancement Project.
  • Welcome dinner with delegates to the ASEAN Experts Working Group Meeting on the ASEAN Convention on Trafficking In Persons & Regional Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking for the SOMTC
  • Experts from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Manila to try to work out either a binding convention on human trafficking or a less stringent "regional plan of action" to enable ASEAN to act in unison
  • Experts from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Manila to try to work out either a binding convention on human trafficking or a less stringent "regional plan of action" to enable ASEAN to act in unison
  • Experts from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Manila to try to work out either a binding convention on human trafficking or a less stringent "regional plan of action" to enable ASEAN to act in unison
  • DOJ Sec. Leila De Lima and DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman

    co-chairs of IACAT during the visit of Amb. CdeBaca

  • IACAT AND PPA DECLARES WAR vs HUMAN TRAFFICKING

    PPA General Manager Atty. Juan C. Sta. Ana and PPA Assistant GM for Operations Raul T. Santos

  • Amb Luis CdeBaca and the Members of IACAT
  • Turnover of the Manual for Asset Forfeiture Proceedings in Human Trafficking

    with representatives from IACAT, USAID and the American Bar Association

  • IACAT AND PPA DECLARES WAR vs HUMAN TRAFFICKING
  • Formal Turnover of Manual for Asset Forfeiture Proceedings in Human Trafficking to IACAT

    with representatives from Member Agencies.

  • GPH-IACAT Delegation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

    seen with Bureau Head Maarten Abelman & his team in front of the Bureau of the Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings in The Hague. Undersecretary-in-Charge of the IACAT, Dept of Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente B. Salazar led the GPH team as Head of Mission.

  • United Nations Special Rapporteur Joy Ngozi and Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima, IACAT chair

    United Nations Special Rapporteur Joy Ngozi met with the top level officials of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to culminate her 5-day visit to the Philippines after examining the situation of trafficked persons and the impact of anti-trafficking measures in the country. Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima, IACAT chair joined in the debriefing held at the Department of Justice.

  • IACAT 2012
You are here: Home IACAT and IJM Establishes Presence in Pampanga, Rescues 14 Minors

IACAT and IJM Establishes Presence in Pampanga, Rescues 14 Minors

Published on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 10:59 | Print | Email

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) welcomed the announcement of the International Justice Mission (IJM) in establishing its presence in the Province of Pampanga. Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar, Undersecretary-in-Charge of IACAT, called attention to this undertaking of IJM as a means to strengthen the government’s ties with the private sector in its mandate to fight off the problem of human trafficking.

 

IJM is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression armed with lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems effectively protect the poor. On January 2, 2012, the IJM was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as an NGO representative of the children’s sector in IACAT, with a term of three (3) years to serve as a part of the anti-human trafficking body.

“We are confident that the success of our partnership with IJM in other provinces, more specifically in the Province of Cebu, will be replicated in the Central Luzon region with Pampanga,” added Salazar. Pampanga is suspected as a haven for the operation of syndicates involved in human trafficking, child pornography and prostitution.

In line with this presence in the province, with the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Central Luzon Women’s Desk, IJM rescued thirty-seven (37) female workers from the Coyote Ugly Bar in Fields Avenue, Barangay Balibago in Angeles City on April 02, 2012. Among the rescued victims, fourteen (14) were found to be minors based on the birth certificates, dental aging examination and the victim’s own account. The victims were reportedly recruited as waitresses from Tacloban City, Tarlac City, Samar, and other parts of the country. 

IACAT recognizes the vital role of the private sector and non-government organizations in dealing with individuals and entities in violation of the anti-human trafficking law. Salazar further stated that “the IJM initiative will go a long way in helping put an end to this form of evil in that part of the country.” 

 

Get Involved