The Justice Department’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) has announced the repatriation of 25 Filipinos from Myanmar and Japan, including suspected human trafficking victims, as the government stepped up efforts to protect returning overseas Filipinos and pursue their alleged traffickers.
The 25 repatriated Filipinos underwent Inter-Agency One-Stop-Shop Processing (OSSP) at an Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) facility in Pasay City.
The OSSP was led by the IACAT-NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIATFAT) under Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Jinky Patagan Dedumo.
The coordinated processing provided the returning Filipinos with immediate assessment, protection, medical assistance and other support following their arrival in the country.
The operation also led to the arrest of a suspected trafficking perpetrator upon arrival, according to IACAT.
The government said the arrest showed its continuing efforts to identify and prosecute individuals involved in the recruitment and exploitation of Filipinos abroad.
The OSSP brought together the Department of Justice-IACAT-NAIATFAT, Department of Migrant Workers, Bureau of Immigration, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development and OWWA.
The NBI International Airport Investigation Division and PNP Women and Children Protection Center conducted investigation and case-building activities to identify individuals, recruiters and recruitment entities allegedly involved in the exploitation of the returning Filipinos.
IACAT-NAIATFAT prosecutors provided legal guidance during the investigation and case build-up to help ensure that evidence gathered would support the filing of appropriate cases.
The government agencies also addressed the immediate needs of the returning Filipinos.
The DSWD, DMW and OWWA facilitated financial, transportation and reintegration assistance, while the DOH conducted medical assessments and provided other health-related services.#