News Release - April 1, 2005
References: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson
Contact Numbers: 259-1145 and 0927-2157392
Vince Borneo, Information Officer, 0927-7968198

Gov't pushing more Pinays to become victims of human trafficking worldwide

The Migrante Sectoral Party branded the Macapagal-Arroyo government as the "chief perpetrator of trafficking Filipinas" with its announcement of 23 new destinations for displaced overseas performing artists due to tightened immigration controls in Japan.

"When Japan placed a more stringent immigration law that took effect last March 15, the Macapagal-Arroyo government, instead of assuring the safety, rights and well-being of overseas Filipinos to be hit by new measures and finding more decent, alternative livelihood in the homeland; only sought more locations for the further deployment, abuse and exploitation of Filipino women," MIGRANTE Sectoral Party Chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) boasted of 23 other countries where displaced overseas performing artists (OPAs) from Japan can go.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration classifies OPAs as composers, musicians, and singers; actors and stage directors; choreographers/dancers; performing artists; and circus performers.

"The results of a market study by the DoLE contained in the 2004 report by the POEA showed that the following countries/territories are government's 'growing alternative markets for OPAs:' South Korea, Bahrain, Brunei, China, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Diego Garcia, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saipan, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Vietnam. We know for a fact that many of these countries have had cases of abuse and maltreatment of Filipinas in the past," Bragas-Regalado said.

The Migrante leader added that "the government has brutally ignored many cases of Filipinas (entertainers and domestic helpers) forced into prostitution and various forms of abuse in most of the 23 listed countries: South Korea (Filipinas near the US Bases in Pusan), Brunei (remember the Brunei beauties expose?) , the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (sex slaves), Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia (previous and ongoing crackdowns on undocumented Filipinos), Papua New Guinea, Saipan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States."

According to the United States Department of State Trafficking In Persons Report in June 2004, the Philippines is a Tier 2 - Watch List nation.

"According to this Report, the Republic of the Philippines under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration 'is a source, transit, and destination country for persons trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor.' This includes those who are deployed as entertainers and are forced into prostitution with or without government's consent," Bragas-Regalado said.

"Finally, Migrante strongly calls on the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to create stable job alternatives and livelihood opportunities for our people, especially our women in the Philippines, instead of offering them jobs intertwined with the web of human trafficking market in the world," Bragas-Regalado ended. #