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At Presidential table from left-right: Ms. Noraima
Sabar Taurac Punong Brgy. Datu Sabar,
MARAWI CITY – Most vulnerable on human trafficking nowadays are children especially during crisis situation. Marawi City was being sieged by the ISIS-Maute group in May 2017 and runs for five months. After the siege, there were alleged cases of disappearances mostly children but needs to be validated.
The CSOs in its response held protection project for one
year, conducted a Forum on human trafficking and the launching of the Child
Protection Project: “Children in the Philippines are not for Sale” with slogan,
"Better lives through safer migration, stop
human trafficking," implemented by the Balay Integrated Rehabilitation
Center for Total Human Development (BIRTHDEV) in partnership with The Save the
Children, jointly held at the Provincial Capitol Complex, Marawi City on July
31, 2018.
The forum and project
launching were attended by barangay officials and constituents, particularly
the 4 target barangays, namely, Barangay Poblacion, Barangay Datu Saber,
Barangay Panggao Saduc and Barangay Matampay, all of Marawi City.
BIRTHDEV Executive Director
Ms. Cristina Lomoljo said the project aims to protect boys and girls affected
by armed conflict in Marawi City from Child Trafficking. She said the project
will be implemented in four (4) barangays for ten (10) months from May, 2018 to
February, 2019 with the Save the Children Organization serving as partner. She
said initially four
barangays are the target areas with project activities include the baseline on
children protection (knowledge, attitudes,
and practice survey, focus group discussion, key informant interview);
community child protection risk mapping; learning session on children’s rights
and child protection for children and adults; establishment of community-based
mechanisms on child trafficking; collaboration with Local Government Unit on
protecting children; capacity building for service providers; and campaign
activities; observance of important dates related to children’s rights.
City social welfare and development officer (CSWDO) focal
person Ms. Rismirah Adad stressed
that the city social welfare office is implementing programs and projects
related to child protection including other similar programs.
DOJ Regional Prosecutor (DRP) Atty. Norma M. Tanggol of the Department of Justice-Regional Prosecutor’s
Office (DOJ-RPO) – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the main
speaker of the forum in her presentation, Modus operandi of
trafficking in persons and salient features of anti- trafficking laws (RA 9208
as amended by RA 10364). She discussed issues and concerns relative to human trafficking
and the legal procedure on filing complaints, as such other related concerns. Tanggol
said that in cases of threats the victims and witnesses can avail the
governments protection program with full security presence to protect them from
harm and possible harassments and attacks by the suspects or accuse persons.
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| Courtesy of ICRC. |
Atty. Hashreen
Lucman of the Prosecutor’s Office advised the families of the victims to
report the incident to the barangay for action, and if no action is taken the
barangay official can be held liable for obstruction of justice.
Major Palawan D. Miodas, PA, Civil Military Operations Officer of the 103 Brigade said that the military
is always ready to provide the needed services or assistance to LGUs and citizens
encountering problems on security.
Provincial Board Member
Jamil Faizal Saro Adiong, President of SK Provincial Federation said the forum and project
launching are timely because the subject on human trafficking was discussed
during the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting where cases of
human trafficking had been mentioned, but no reports had been made of the unfortunate
incidents. He reminded the children and families to report any incident
on human trafficking to authorities, like kidnapping, slavery, involuntary
servitude, and human smuggling. He said
children deserve to be protected and provided with opportunities to learn and
have a better future.
Punong Barangay Taurac of Datu Saber said the barangay
is supporting the project on child protection and implementing local measures
towards the protection of children.
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| Participants of the Forum. |
Save the Children chief executive officer Alberto Jesus T. Muyot told
reporters that the forum and project launching relate to the protection of
children in conflict areas of Marawi City.
He said that disaster maybe natural or man-made but children are the
most vulnerable, and added that the project aims to build communities to make
them aware of the issues and concerns affecting their lives. He reiterated of four
barangays are the initial target of the project, expressed hope that the
project will be successful, and as soon as the target barangays will be fully covered,
the project will be applied to other barangays in Marawi. Muyot said the project has the support from
the provincial government, local government, national government agencies, and
non-government organizations. He said the organization intends to organize
7,000 adults to serve as watch groups to ensure that every child deserves a
future. “The Save the Children works everyday to give children a healthy start
in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm” said Muyot. He added
that the Save the Children will do whatever it takes for children everyday and
in times of crisis transforming their lives and the future we share.
Other key officers of the Save the Children present
during the forum were Ms. Alrene Mae Fuentes, Project Officer on Child
Protection; Mr. Aedrian Araojo, Information and Communications Officer; Mr. August
Ceazar Acorda, Project Coordinator. (with reports by Jun Enriquez, photos by
Salve Gimena)