Some 200 Barangay Captains, school heads, student leaders, and media members in Aklan attended the Forum on Anti-illegal Recruitment (AIR) and Human Trafficking. The forum was held Friday, Nov. 18 at the Gov. Corazon L. Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center (GCLCTTC), Old Buswang, Kalibo Aklan. The Provincial Government of Aklan thru the Aklan Task Force on Anti-illegal Recruitment (AIR) and Human Trafficking and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) sponsored the forum.
Some 191 Barangay Captains from the municipalities of Aklan except Libacao witnessed the video testimonials of some Aklanon illegal recruitment victims. They detailed their experiences from illegal recruiters and struggles from working abroad as fishermen.
One of the victims’ mother personally narrated her family’s suffering especially her son, who died in a fishing boat on the Bay of Bengal and whose body was repatriated thru the assistance of the Aklan Provincial Government only 54 days after his death.
Based on the victims’ testimonials, it was concluded illegal recruiters screen victims from poor areas in the provinces and identify themselves as close to the victims’ families. The recruiters also have unknown ways of clandestinely transporting victims and bypassing immigration authorities through different ports and land routes both in and out of the country.
Most of the victims have fabricated seaman’s books and other employment documents. They travelled through many land and sea vessels in several countries before reaching their work destinations.
According to Atty. Maria Maya Bien Q. Mayor-Tolentino, Provincial Prosecutor and Co-Chairperson of the Task Force, desperation to rise from poverty is the reason behind all these, that the victims are willing to ignore the risks even if they know them.
PO3 Willian N. Aguirre of the PNP-Aklan Provincial Police Office reported the accomplishments of the newly-created Task Force with regard to the investigation and filing of appropriate complaints against the illegal recruiters, based here in the Philippines and in the destination country.
The Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) among the participants was conducted by Ms. Vivian Ruiz-Solano, Provincial PESO Manager wherein she discussed the different modus operandi of illegal recruiters and the proper procedure in applying for overseas jobs.
A commendation to the Province of Aklan was given by Regional Director Samuel S. Madrid of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to Aklanons as one of the most active provinces in Region 6 in the campaign against illegal recruitment.
During the Forum, Gov. Marquez emphasized public awareness and concerted efforts of all the community sectors are the keys to eliminate illegal recruitment in Aklan. He urged the Brgy. Captains and their respective communities to serve as "watch groups".
Some concerns expressed by Barangay Captains during the Open Forum moderated by Mr. John Ace A. Azarcon, Provincial Director, DILG were their authority to conduct citizen’s arrest of illegal recruiters and the employment of minors in Sacada.
After the event, all the participants and 327 Barangays thru the Liga ng mga Barangay Presidents of 17 municipalities were provided with Anti-Illegal Recruitment Information materials from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the AIR Brochure of the Task Force in the Aklanon language.
"This gathering of various sectors of the community can minimize if not stop illegal recruitment and human trafficking", Gov. Marquez predicts. /MP
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