A Filipino bishop said human trafficking is a significant problem in the country driven by poverty, illegal recruitment, online abuse, and growing dangers facing migrants, women, and children.
Bishop Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa, chairman of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, issued a four-page pastoral message for the National Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking on Feb. 1 that served as a “call to the conscience of the entire nation.”
He urged all parishes nationwide to intensify their anti-trafficking efforts, particularly by increasing awareness, educating the public, and providing support for the protection of vulnerable individuals.
False promises
Twelve of the country’s 87 dioceses have established Diocesan Committees Against Human Trafficking (DCAHT) to ensure coordinated responses.
To provide a more efficient response to cases of human trafficking in every diocese, it is necessary for DCAHTs to have “coordinated prevention, protection, referral, and advocacy efforts,” Mesiona stressed.
“False promises, deceptive recruitment, misleading online messages, and the exploitation of desperation and silence are how human trafficking is carried out,” he said.
“We are obligated to pay attention to the cries of those who are impoverished, to safeguard those who are vulnerable, and to confront the mechanisms that enable exploitation to continue,” the prelate said.
Mesiona stated that “human trafficking is not merely a social problem; it is a profound moral concern that calls for the conversion of hearts and the transformation of systems.”
There are many different types of exploitation that occur in the Philippines, such as illegal recruitment, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and the growing issue of internet abuse, which includes abuse committed against women and children.
“The occurrences described here are not singular occurrences. They reflect more fundamental societal problems that call for a reaction that is both immediate and ongoing,” he said.
According to him, “peace begins with dignity,” and he went on to say that human trafficking not only destroys the lives of individuals but also destroys families, communities, and the moral conscience of society.
Additionally, Mesiona urged all parishes, institutions, and organizations to take part in prevention by establishing secure environments for the acquisition of knowledge, the maintenance of vigilance, and the protection of susceptible individuals.
The bishop asked parishes to collaborate with diocesan programs that are working to combat human trafficking and to place an emphasis on education, the utilization of social media, and activities that are geared toward youth training.
The prelate said: “We call on parishes to become spaces of vigilance, education, and protection.” He also urged the incorporation of awareness into catechesis, youth activities, and the formation of families.
Prayer must be followed by action, according to Mesiona. “Awareness must move us toward responsibility, and faith must lead us to action.”
While reiterating the Church’s commitment to its mission, he highlighted the importance of strong government leadership in the fight against human trafficking, along with civil society groups and others. This leadership must include law enforcement, victim protection, and policies that are founded on human dignity.
“Our nation continues to be impacted by various forms of exploitation, such as the illegal recruitment of individuals, the use of forced labor, sexual exploitation, and the growing threat of online abuse, particularly involving children,” he said.
In addition to causing harm to families and communities, human trafficking also undermines the moral fabric of the nation, Mesiona said.
The bishop emphasized that the Church is unable to undertake everything alone.
“The responsibility to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and hold perpetrators accountable rests primarily on the state,” with laws and public policies playing a significant role in protecting citizens.
Encouraging dialogue, accountability, and coordinated action for the common good is a “shared national call” that extends an invitation to the government and the Church to work together to mark the National Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.
Mesiona asked the government to tighten its implementation of anti-trafficking laws, improve cooperation between different government agencies, guarantee that recruitment processes are regulated, and protect victims while addressing the main causes of trafficking, which include poverty, inequality, and a lack of decent economic opportunities.
Sex tourism and slavery
The Philippines witnesses about 100,000 children being trafficked each year, even though prostitution is illegal.
According to a study by Fanstats, an online content creation database, “the underground sex market operates widely in Manila and other cities,” with tourists openly offering sex services despite legal prohibitions.
The International Justice Mission conducted a study in 2022 that found that almost half a million Filipino children were trafficked to make child sexual exploitation material that was meant to make a quick profit on misery.
A study by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2022 found that 20% of kids aged 12 to 17 were at risk of being sexually abused and exploited online, and 23% of kids kept quiet about the awful things that happened to them.
In 2024, the Philippine government’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking reported 890 trafficking victims, 545 of whom were sex trafficking victims.
The 2023 Global Slavery Index showed that about 860,000 people in the Philippines were trapped in modern slavery conditions that included sex trafficking.
The Philippines has also kept its Tier 1 status in the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report, which shows that the country is still working hard to stop trafficking even though it faces problems.
Sister Elizabeth V. Pedernal, national coordinator of Talitha Kum Philippines, a network against human trafficking, said different forms of human trafficking and exploitation cases are not being reported in many parts of the country.
Given the scenario, all need to be more vigilant and fight for the value of human dignity of all, especially women, children, and vulnerable people, said Pedernal, a member of the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo-Scalabrinians.
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