Proponent/Claimant
Ferdinand T. Abocejo
Abstract
This study investigated the status of human trafficking in persons in Cebu city, central Philippines from the years 2010 to 2015. The paper analyzed the profile of victims, types of human trafficking, complaints filed by law enforcement agencies. The study anchored its theoretical framework on the Gender Paradigm of Reed [1] and the Rational Choice Theory of Lutya and Lanier [2] together with RA9208 [3] and Cebu City Ordinance 2163 [4] as the legal bases. The study employed a descriptive quantitative research design and document analysis using secondary data obtained from reports, databases of governmental agencies and online peer reviewed journals and dissertations. Findings revealed that majority of the victims were women and children who are considered as the most vulnerable groups to human trafficking. On the positive now, the number of victims was on a decline from the 2010 to 2015. Sexual exploitation and prostitution were the most prevalent followed by forced labor and pornography. With respect to prosecution processes, there was a relatively high frequency of convictions followed by those cases on trial, yet these remained low in relation to the volume of reported and monitored cases. Notably, the number of convictions does not necessarily indicate successful prosecution against human traffickers. For fear of risking their lives against 'bigtime' perpetrators and financial limitations brought about by income poverty, many victims are forced to execute affidavit of desistance thereby withdraw the filed cases especially when they are not placed under the witness protection program. In effect, first hand testimonies against identified offenders are not exposed during hearings and trials weakening speedy court decisions and case resolutions. Nonetheless, the local government and various stakeholders are exerting concerted efforts in curbing human trafficking in Cebu City. In conclusion, human trafficking in persons in the study area remain unabated as law enforcement, prosecution and aftercare agencies have not fully achieved substantial successes towards the eradication of human trafficking during the study period. This calls for a concrete, comprehensive and strongly well-coordinated efforts among concern government and private agencies and institutions to combat human trafficking in this part of Central Philippines. Keywords-Trafficking in persons, human trafficking victims, rational choice theory, gender paradigm, affidavit of desistance, metropolitan Cebu. Keywords: Trafficking in persons, human trafficking victims, rational choice theory, gender paradigm, affidavit of desistance, metropolitan Cebu.
Name of Research Journal
2017 CEBU International Conference on Studies in Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
Date/Year of Publication
2017
Citation
Dela Serna, M. E., Ferrer, R. M. E., & Abocejo, F. T. (2017, January). Trafficking in persons in Cebu City, central Philippines. In 2017 CEBU International Conference on Studies in Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (SASSH-17) (pp. 26-27).
