Trafficking in R11 109 cases filed, 15 convictions
THERE were 109 human trafficking cases already filed in court as of September this year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Davao region reported on October 12, Thursday.
Speaking during the I-Speak Forum at Davao City Engineer's Office (CEO), DOJ-Davao assistant regional prosecutor lawyer Ritzel R. Polinar said human trafficking still exists.
Of the 109 cases filed in court, 15 resulted to conviction; 13 were acquitted; 17 were dismissed; five were withdrawn; 13 were archived; and 46 are still active.
Polinar said most of the cases involved sexual exploitation and one forced labor. She added that the Regional Prosecution Office also noted one
child pornography case, of which the youngest victim is one year old.
"Some of the complainants came all the way from Surigao tapos dinala sa Davao kasi pinangakuan ng trabaho. There were also those na from Davao del Norte province or Davao City tapos dinala naman sa Metro Manila," Polinar said.
The DOJ noted 132 cases of human trafficking last year, victimizing 145 persons, Polinar said. Of the 145 victims, 130 of them were females and 15 were males.
From 130 female victims, 84 of them were minors and 46 were adults. As to male victims, 12 were minors and three were adults. A total of 149 persons were charged last year for human trafficking, 73 were females and 76 were males.
Out of the 73 accused females, 46 were detained in various jail facilities in Davao City and the region