DOJ, IACAT urged to seek extradition of fugitive foreigner facing human trafficking case in PH
Filipino human trafficking victims urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (IACAT) to seek the extradition of a foreigner who is the subject of arrest warrants issued by local courts for multiple criminal charges .
In a letter addressed to DOJ Acting Sec. Fredderick A. Vida dated May 12, lawyer Rex Lampa, the legal counsel of the victims, requested that the Philippine government locate and arrest London-based Italian Adel En Nouri.
“We believe that a government-to-government initiative and discussion will bring a more expeditious resolution on this matter,” said the lawyer in the letter.
Lampa believes En Nouri remains a serious threat to his victims as long as the Italian remains free.
“My clients are deeply distressed to know that the person responsible for their suffering remains free and beyond the reach of authorities,” lamented the lawyer.
“Unless he is immediately apprehended, my clients’ life is in perpetual danger as Mr. Adel En Nouri is capable of committing criminal acts despite being abroad through his Filipino conspirators,” he explained.
Last March 4, the Bacoor City Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued an arrest warrant against the foreigner and his co-accused, all of whom were charged with a non-bailable qualified human trafficking under Section 4 (a) in relation to Section 6 (c) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9208, as amended.
The RTC issued another arrest warrant last April 10 against him and his co-accused on charges of serious illegal detention and large-scale illegal recruitment.
Meanwhile, the lawyer has asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to seek the issuance of a red notice from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) against Adel En Nouri.
A red notice is a global request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
Lampa has also asked the British embassy to cancel the visa of the Italian.