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Authorities raid a BPO compound in Bagac, Bataan on October 31,2024 alleged to be a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), following a search warrant for human trafficking violations. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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POGO

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17592689556591759268951218.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Authorities raid a BPO compound in Bagac, Bataan on October 31,2024 alleged to be a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), following a search warrant for human trafficking violations. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News The Philippines has retained its <a href="https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report-135/">Tier 1 ranking</a> in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, signifying that the government fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.</div>However, the U.S. Department of State noted serious concerns over the country’s failure to identify thousands of potential victims in industrial-scale online scam operations and persistent official complicity in the crime.The report credited the Government of the Philippines for demonstrating “serious and sustained efforts” throughout the reporting period, leading to the top-tier placement.Among the key victories highlighted in the report, the government successfully increased both investigations and prosecutions against human traffickers.Law enforcement bodies investigated 500 cases, an increase from 417 in the previous period.The government prosecuted 446 alleged traffickers, a substantial jump from 264 previously.Courts convicted 143 traffickers, with the “majority of convicted traffickers” receiving significant prison terms, a crucial deterrent against future offenses.Crucially, the government took steps to dismantle large-scale criminal enterprises, notably by banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) licenses, which were frequently used as cover for massive human trafficking rings involving forced labor in online scam centers.New legislation was also enacted to better regulate fishing recruitment agencies and protect fishers from exploitation.Despite these successes, the report points to a major failure in victim protection, particularly concerning the foreign nationals exploited in the online scam operations often associated with POGOs.The Philippine government “did not identify the vast majority of potential trafficking victims” among individuals exploited in these scam centers, despite widespread reporting that these individuals faced conditions indicative of forced labor.Unlike in 2023, when 362 foreign victims were identified in cooperation with international organizations, the government “did not report identifying any foreign national trafficking victims” this year.Instead, officials deported the overwhelming majority of foreign nationals arrested—totaling at least 3,000 individuals—without screening them as victims.The report warned that due to “inadequate and inconsistent screening,” authorities failed to prevent the inappropriate penalization of potential victims solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked. The overall number of victims identified by the government was also lower than in previous years, and the report noted that “some officials did not use trauma-informed practices in victim identification.”The report concluded that “Corruption and official complicity in trafficking remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year.”This issue, which involves officials allegedly accepting bribes to facilitate irregular migration or overlooking illegal labor recruiters, continues to be a systemic barrier to eliminating trafficking.Furthermore, the Philippines continues to be challenged by the pervasive issue of Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children (OSAEC), identified as one of the largest known sources globally for this form of trafficking.The report cited one study finding that approximately two million Filipino children aged 12 to 17 were subjected to OSAEC.The final assessment indicates that while the Philippines has made demonstrable strides in prosecuting traffickers, the government must significantly ramp up its efforts to proactively identify and protect victims, especially those trapped in the high-profile online scam industry, to fully address the scale of the problem.

The Philippines has retained its Tier 1 ranking in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, signifying that the government fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

The Philippines has retained its Tier 1 ranking in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, signifying that the government fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Philippines maintains top anti-trafficking rank despite corruption, gaps in victim protection

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Philippines maintains top anti-trafficking rank despite corruption, gaps in victim protection

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 01, 2025 06:05 AM PHT

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Philippines

anti-trafficking

trafficking in persons

US department of state

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