Senator Loren Legarda called for stronger action against human trafficking, as she linked the protection of victims—particularly women and girls—to broader efforts in women’s empowerment.

Legarda also stressed the need for reforms that uphold survivors’ dignity and security.

“This Women’s Month, let us move beyond declarations and commit to measurable outcomes stronger identification systems, tighter digital enforcement, sustained prosecution, and reintegration services that allow survivors to rebuild with security and dignity,” Legarda said.

The senator warned that despite existing laws and international recognition, human trafficking remains a persistent threat in the Philippines, with women and girls continuing to face heightened vulnerability.

Citing data from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), Legarda said 445 victims were assisted last year, the majority of whom were women and girls. Of these, 163 were victims of sex trafficking—161 female and two male—while 104 were victims of labor trafficking, including 58 women and 46 men.

“It shows that the risk environment continues to place women and girls in positions of higher vulnerability,” she said.

Legarda also cited the 2025 United States (US) Trafficking in Persons Report, which indicated that in 2024, the Philippine government assisted 1,377 victims of exploitation, including cases of illegal recruitment and adoption, with 831 females and 546 males.

She further highlighted the evolving nature of trafficking, noting that perpetrators are increasingly using digital platforms, deepfake technology, and cross-border payment systems to expand their operations.

“Recruitment now happens online. Social media platforms are used to lure victims through fraudulent job offers, false identities, and emotional manipulation. Deepfake technology now complicates evidence and distorts accountability,” Legarda said.

She cited a 2025 Reuters investigation involving Meta Platforms Inc., which reported that internal chatbot policies allowed “romantic or sensual” conversations with minors, including content directed at an eight-year-old.

“It is a stark reminder that when profit overshadows responsibility, children, especially girls, bear the consequences,” Legarda said.

The senator also pointed to government efforts to assist victims abroad, noting that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) repatriated 706 potential Filipino trafficking victims in 2024. Many were reportedly exploited in online scam operations in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos—a significant increase from 431 cases the previous year.

Legarda recalled that her advocacy against trafficking dates back to her early career as a journalist, where she witnessed firsthand the exploitation of women and children.

“Before traffickers hid behind usernames, encrypted chats, and closed groups, I saw exploitation in its rawest form. As a young journalist, I documented how women and children were traded through illegal recruiters and organized syndicates. When I entered the Senate, one of the first measures I pursued was an anti-trafficking in persons law,” she said.

She also cited the country’s key legal measures against trafficking, including Republic Act (RA) No. 9208, RA No. 10364, RA No. 11862, and RA No. 11930, which together form the Philippines’ legal framework against trafficking and exploitation.

Despite these safeguards, Legarda stressed that traffickers continue to adapt faster than institutions, underscoring the urgency of strengthening systems to better protect vulnerable sectors.