[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

THE PHILIPPINES (Tier 1) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of the Philippines fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.  The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore the Philippines remained on Tier 1.  These efforts included investigating more trafficking crimes, convicting more traffickers, amending its anti-trafficking law, increasing funding to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), and sentencing nearly all traffickers to significant prison terms.  The government approved a new NAP and consulted survivors during its development.  Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not vigorously investigate or prosecute labor trafficking crimes that occurred within the Philippines.  The government identified fewer victims and prosecuted fewer traffickers.  Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year.

Prioritized Recommendations

Investigate and prosecute traffickers, including labor traffickers and complicit officials, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms. 

Increase efforts to proactively identify and assist labor trafficking victims, including by providing training to law enforcement, social service providers, and labor inspectors on indicators of trafficking. 

Strengthen the capacity of local government units to provide reintegration services for trafficking survivors, including trauma-informed care, job training, and in-country employment. 

Increase support to government and NGO programs that provide specialized care for trafficking victims, including child victims of online sexual exploitation. 

Increase survivor engagement, including by establishing accessible mechanisms for receiving and providing compensation for survivor input when forming policies, programs, and trainings. 

Ensure victims receive court-ordered restitution and compensation ordered through civil judgments. 

Increase resources for anti-trafficking task forces and law enforcement units to conduct timely investigations, coordinated operations, and prosecutions while providing robust victim and witness assistance services. 

Consistently implement the coordinated interagency response to providing services to returning Filipinos exploited in sex and labor trafficking overseas. 

Create a central database for information on illegal recruiters and human trafficking cases to facilitate interagency coordination in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting traffickers.