Manila widens drug trafficking crackdown

From intercepting trafficking victims at the airport to helping survivors find jobs, a citywide drive to combat the growing crime was launched yesterday in Angeles, in the Philippines.

Police, prosecutors, charities, and government and aviation officials in the city are joining forces to boost support for victims and educate people to prevent them being trafficked.

Angeles — north of the capital Manila — is considered a trafficking hot spot in the Southeast Asian country. Nearby Clark airport is a major travel hub and common entry and exit point for both traffickers and their victims, said activists.

“From giving shelter to providing livelihood projects for victims, we must all work hand-in-hand to eradicate human trafficking,” government official Purita David said.

The anti-trafficking partnership — made up of a dozen groups — also aims to engage children at school and in vulnerable communities, and work with local leaders to raise awareness.

While similar initiatives have been adopted in other parts of the country, including the capital, the one in Angeles is the most comprehensive to-date, said the Visayan Forum Foundation. “We need to be proactive and focus on prevention to break the cycle of trafficking,” said charity founder Cecilia Flores-Oebanda.