Country
Modern slavery in Philippines
11 documented cases recorded in Philippines, 2008–2011. Locations are deliberately generalized to protect survivors.
Manila, Philippines
Undercover investigations were conducted. The International Justice Mission (IJM) assisted the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) in rescuing four trafficked minors. The suspected traffickers were arrested during the Rescue Operation of IJM and NBI. As of 10/25/2011, IJM Lawyers are developing a legal case against the suspected traffickers. Further government investigations were done and the authorities issued a petition to permanently close the bar.
Brgy Palanan, Makati City, Philippines
Entrapment Operation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). CIDG posed as clients. There was collaboration among CIDG Women and Children Protection Division, IACAT prosecutors, and Department Social Welfare and Development representatives. 60 women were rescued
Fields Avenue, Balibago, Phillipines, Philippines
Pagdilao said that CIDG-WCPD operating elements led by Police Superintendent Emma M. Libunao raided around 9:00 PM last night the Sweet Girl Honey Pot night club situated at Fields Avenue, Baligabo, Angeles City and rescued the 42 victims. The head of the raiding team, Police Superintendent Emma M. Libunao, said the raid stemmed from a complaint made by Ledillia Cortez of Camp O’ Donnel, Capas, Tarlac that her 17-year old niece who had been missing for a week after she left to look for a job was being held in a night club in Angeles City. Cortez told CIDG that she received a text message from her niece last May 14, 2011 that the latter wants to be rescued because the floor manager of the said club was forcibly arranging her to a bar-fine, a deal which allows male customers to take out female club workers for sexual services elsewhere in exchange for a P1,500 fine. The 17-year old victim later told CIDG investigators that she was forcibly being held by the floor manager because of the debt she has incurred from availing the club’s uniform for its women workers.
Catumbal, Cabaluay, Zamboanga City, Philippines; Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Sandakan, Malaysia, Philippines
As reported by the Republic of the Philippines Department of Labor and Employment, 2011-02-11 http://www.dole.gov.ph/secondpage.php?id=1790 "Arlene Ramos, a.k.a. "Michelle Ramos," "Arlene Lee," or "Arlene Anova" was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt in violation of Section 7(a) of Republic Act No. 8042, or the Migrant Workers Act of 1995; and of human trafficking under Section 4(a) in relation to Sections 3(a) and 10(a) of RA 9208, otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. The case was filed in 2005 after Ramos, who was found to have no license from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), had recruited sisters Aleli T. Wee and Herminia T. Wee for non-existent jobs as food servers in a restaurant in Malaysia. Ramos promised the victims' mother, Jasmine T. Wee, that her daughters will receive the monthly salary of P12,000 each, but said the cost of the recruitment will be through salary deduction equivalent to P3,000.00 for the first four months. Ramos further told the mother not to worry because she (Ramos) will take care of the needed documents. It turned out that Ramos were to sold the sisters to slavery. She first brought them to her house in Catumbal, Cabaluay, Zamboanga City, then to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi where they were forced to board a vessel of the Aleson Shipping Lines which brought them to Sandakan, Malaysia. In Malaysia, the sisters were forced to work as domestic helpers without pay. One of the sisters, Herminia, was forced to become a sex-slave. Afraid to escape because they had no documents, they accepted their fates, but at the close of 2005, they were able to go back to the Philippines. Aleli went home on 03 December while Herminia arrived less than a month later, on 27 December."
Daraga, Albay, Phillipines, Philippines
The owner and the cashier of a bar in Daraga, Albay, Phillipines forced 4 girls between the ages of 14-16 years old to work in the bar as "guest relations officers" All four girls had been trafficked from the near by town of Manilla. A fifth girl who had been there had escaped and made her way back to Manilla where she reported the bar to authorities.
MANILA, Philippines, Philippines
The Task Force said Sollano was able to establish that respondents (Tanenglian et al) received and employed her as their housemaid for a period of more than five years. "Within this period, complainant suffered cruelty, physical abuse from the hands of respondents, and had been subjected to a condition prejudicial to her normal development as a child.” The task force also took note of a contract signed by respondent Mariano – which evidenced that complainant was employed as a housemaid – with intention to extract forced labor or involuntary servitude from her for five years without salary and under constant condition of harm and threat. The DOJ also used as basis in filing the case in court the respective affidavits of Sollano’s father, who claimed that he has not seen his daughter since she left the province in 2004; members of the Quezon City police; and representatives of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) who were part of the team that rescued Sollano from the Tanenglian residence in August 2009.
Cagayan Oro Phillipines, Philippines
The Philippine government handed down life sentences to the Swedes on May 6th, 2011. The court also fined the Swedes, Emil Andreas Solemo and Bo Stefan Sederholm, $46,500 (American) each. Three Filipinos were given 20-year jail sentences for helping the Swedes, who had set up the internet and payment systems, to run the business. The Philippine government justified the charge of Human Trafficking because the women were transported from different parts of the Philippines to the site of the exploitation. As of June 1, 2011, Andreas and Sederholm are appealing the ruling.
Daraga, Philippines, Philippines
Yes, The NBI workers posed as customers and immediately arrested the bar owner and cashier. The women were fined 20,000 USD and sentenced to 20 years in prison
Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines, Philippines
The two minors aged 17 and 18 were hired to work with a promise they are to be given a “decent job” in Manila and each would receive PhP300/per day sometime in August 2009. The duo ended up in delivery of food stuff allegedly on foot for they were not given fare for transport, the joint committees learned. The minors had cash advance of PhP3,000 each prior to their departure heading for home in Getafe , Bohol , the parents told the joint committees. They were accompanied by their parents during the committee hearing
Manila, Philippines
Senior State Prosecutor Deana Perez of the Department of Justice filed charges of qualified human trafficking against Reci, Manansala, and a John Doe who fled during the raid. Amelia Tria-Infante meted out the penalty of life imprisonment to Police Officer 2 Dennis A. Reci and his co-accused Feliciano Manansala after finding them guilty of qualified trafficking, the gravest offense under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (Republic Act 9208
Manila, Philippines, Philippines
Police raided the house after members of the gang were arrested at the Manila airport where they were trying to send five girls to clients in the Middle East using fake documents. The victims rescued at the airport told police they had been held for several weeks at a house, and the raid on that house uncovered the other 20 victims.