There were lesser convictions in trafficking-in-persons (TIP) cases in 2021 compared to previous years, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) said on Wednesday, Dec. 29.
It said that based on reports initially collated, there were 43 TIP convictions and 31 TIP-related convictions in 2021 compared to 94 TIP convictions and 75 TIP-related convictions in 2020.
Fifty-five percent of convictions in 2021 was a result of plea bargaining which is pleading guilty to a lesser offense for a lighter penalty, it also said.
In its report, IACAT said it “has already monitored a total 715 TIP convictions and 280 other TIP-related convictions since the enactment of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in 2003.”
However, Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, the undersecretary in charge of IACAT, explained why there were lesser TIP convictions reported for 2021.
“The reports from the prosecutors and courts usually come in very late. Even up to April reports for November and December convictions still come in so this number (74) is not yet final and accurate,” Villar said.
IACAT coordinates and monitors implementation of Republic Act No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
It is headed by the secretary of the Department of Justice.
The other members are the secretaries of Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of the Interior and Local Government; commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration, chief of the Philippine National Police, chairpersons of the Philippine Commission on Women and Commission on Filipinos Overseas;
Executive director of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes, and representatives of the Coalition Against Trafficking In Women – Asia Pacific (non-government organization or NGO representing the women sector), Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute (NGO representing the OFWs sector), and International Justice Mission (NGO representing the children sector).