NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking

𝗜𝗔𝗖𝗔𝗧 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), in partnership with the ASEAN–Australia Counter Trafficking (ASEAN-ACT) program, continues to strengthen government efforts against trafficking in persons facilitated by corruption.

On 14 May 2026, IACAT convened the 3rd Anti-Corruption Guidelines Small Group Workshop, bringing together key oversight and accountability institutions, including the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Philippine Civil Service Commission (CSC), Office of the President– Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (OP-ODESLA), Office of the Ombudsman Philippines, and the Sandiganbayan, alongside law enforcement agencies, namely the Bureau of Immigration,(BI), National Bureau of Investigation – International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID), Philippine Coast Guard(PCG), and PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group(PNP-ACG).

Building on the outcomes of previous consultations, participants reviewed and refined the proposed Terms of Reference (TOR) for Anti-Corruption Focal Persons, a key initiative aimed at institutionalizing a coordinated inter-agency mechanism for monitoring, reporting, and addressing the complicity of public officials and employees in trafficking in persons cases.

Participants also mapped existing administrative accountability mechanisms, including agency-specific jurisdictions, complaint procedures, and disciplinary processes, to better understand the available avenues for addressing complaints against public officials and employees implicated in trafficking in persons cases.

The discussions underscored the importance of a whole-of-government approach in strengthening safeguards against corruption and official complicity in trafficking in persons. The active participation of oversight and accountability institutions reinforced the government commitment to strengthening integrity mechanisms and ensuring that public officials who facilitate or enable trafficking are held accountable under the law.

Happy Birthday to the Honorable Secretary of Justice, Secretary Fredderick A. Vida! Your IACAT - NAIATFAT family wishes you good health, happiness, and continued success. Thank you for your inspiring leadership, dedication to justice, and unwavering service to the Filipino people.

Happy Birthday, SOJ Vida!

Your dedication to public service and leadership have advanced meaningful reforms and strengthened our justice system.

May you be blessed with good health, continued strength, and wisdom as you lead and serve. From your DOJ family, we wish you a joyful birthday and a fulfilling year ahead.

PRESS RELEASE | DOJ-Spain forge alliance to ramp up digital reforms in PH justice system

As part of the Philippine government’s efforts to modernize and advance technology in the delivery of justice, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix L. Ty and Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Executive Director Hannah Lizette S. Manalili met with Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Miguel Utray on 21 May 2026.

Read more: https://www.doj.gov.ph/news_article.html?newsid=2duZJu8UowyE9wbVlniZ2_2XmC-BJ5tqSfVwVav7m8c

👇

A 56-year-old undocumented Filipino immigrant was sentenced in Saipan to 18 months in prison for filing fraudulent applications for employment authorization, the US attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands announced Thursday.

Check the full story in our comments.

𝗜𝗔𝗖𝗔𝗧-𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗢𝗠 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝟯𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking – Advocacy and Communications Committee (IACAT–ADVOCOM) held its 39th Meeting on 19 May 2026 at the Commission on Filipinos Overseas(CFO), 9th Floor, Nexgen Tower, C-4 Road, EDSA Extension, Pasay City.

One of the key highlights of the meeting was the presentation of the International Pro Bono Alliance (IPBA), a network providing pro bono legal assistance to migrant workers and vulnerable sectors through regional partnerships and related initiatives.

The Committee likewise discussed preparations for the National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Awareness Month (NATAM), including the proposed Memorandum Circular outlining the campaign theme, advocacy activities, and implementation guidelines for the 2026 observance, as well as proposed digital collaterals for the month-long advocacy campaign. The upcoming ASEAN Regional Conference for the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026 was likewise presented.

Updates on the 1343 Actionline against Human Trafficking were also provided, including case reports, emerging trends in trafficking in persons, and ongoing information campaign activities such as the Community Education Program (CEP), “Human, Hindi Laruan” webinars, intermarriage seminars, and social media advocacy initiatives.

The meeting reaffirmed IACAT-ADVOCOM’s continued commitment to strengthening coordination and sustaining efforts in anti-trafficking communications and prevention advocacy.

https://immigration.gov.ph/bi-reports-return-of-trafficking-victims-who-left-via-backdoor/

BI reports return of trafficking victims who left via backdoor PASAY, Philippines — In line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intensify efforts against human trafficking and illegal migration, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the repatriation of three Filipinas who were allegedly recruited through an illegal exit scheme and later ...

𝟮𝟬 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱

A total of 20 Filipino human trafficking victims (HTVs) from Cambodia were safely repatriated by the Philippine government, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the protection and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in distress situations.

The HTVs arrived safely at NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City early morning of May 8, 2026 aboard a flight from Techno International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The repatriation was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) through the Migrant Workers Office in Singapore and the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh.

Upon arrival, they received assistance to ensure their recovery and reintegration, including financial and welfare support from the DMW and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and legal assistance from the DMW-Migrant Workers Protection Bureau and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Task Force. The Bureau of Immigration and NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIA-TFAT) also extended airport assistance.

DMW continues to warn Filipinos against red flags that might entice them into working for scam hubs in Cambodia and Thailand such as recruitment through apps, high salary offer and job opportunities in IT and customer service.