Groups call on US, PH to end trafficking
by Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
JERSEY CITY, NJ - At the screening of a 1999 Marie Boti documentary called “Modern Heroes, Modern Slaves,” held at the New Jersey City University in Jersey City Monday night, viewers had a glimpse of how thousands of Filipinos, mostly women, leave the Philippines to find better paying jobs abroad.
Many Filipinos find themselves victimized by human traffickers and some even come back home dead.
“My heart was broken to see this movie and know that there are people suffering like this, in the Philippines primarily and in other parts of the world, I think that as a nation, the United States should really put an end to this,” said Migna Khan of Occupy NJ.
The US Department of State’s recent statistics show that about 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders, with about 17,500 ending up in the US.
Yves Nibungco of the “Stop Trafficking our People” campaign said human trafficking is one result of the lack of jobs and opportunities in the Philippines.
”The Philippines’ export of labor to send dollar remittances to fill in its trade deficits creates a condition where recruitment agencies find a fertile ground where people are desperate for jobs,” said Nibungco.
Cecile Delgado was one of those desperately seeking for jobs. She is a member of Florida 15, part of a bigger group of Filipino Workers who were trafficked in Southern Florida.
Delgado and other Filipino workers were able to escape and file a lawsuit against their former employer from the San Villa Ship Management company. Their former employer is set to be hiding in the Philippines.
“Siguro ang gawin talaga ng Philippine government is scrutinize nila, lahat ng sangay ng gubyerno tutukan talaga nila yung rules and regulations kung talaga bang nami-meet. Tigilan na natin yung mga lagay-lagay kasi buhay na itong pinaguusapan,” said Delgado.
Comments