Tovic Salvador

PH, Cambodia exchange ideas to ideas to fight human trafficking

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Philippines and Cambodia exchanged ideas to strengthen their fight against human trafficking, a serious issue both countries are currently facing.A Cambodian delegation, composed of officials from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, and the General Department of Immigration, is currently in the Philippines.Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary and Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (IACAT) Co-Chairperson Rex Gatchalian emphasized the need to reinforce protocols and align standards in combating human trafficking.Gatchalian stressed the importance of regional cooperation to ensure that victims of trafficking are properly protected.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/24/sc-recruiting-children-for-sexual-exploitation-is-trafficking-even-without-coercion-1154">SC: Recruiting children for sexual exploitation is trafficking even without coercion</a></div>“Kami sa  DSWD, inutusan tayo ng pangulo na siguraduhin na ang mga naging biktima ay napapangalagaan at importante na we reach out on a regional level,“ Gatchalian said.He also recalled that many Filipinos who were trafficked to Cambodia have been repatriated.“Importante yun standards na gusto natin pairalin ay tugma sa standards ng Cambodia ... Kasi nga we’ve been very good allies in the fight against human trafficking. Kami naman sa side namin, importante yung integration and rehabilitation,“ he added.Gatchalian further explained that regional cooperation allows for better coordination between law enforcement agencies and victim care programs across countries.“Kasi dito umiikot ang mga sindikato at dito rin umiikot yung mga biktima, kaya’t importante [na] both the law enforcement and the integration or the taking care of the victims ay tugmang-tugma among all the countries [in] the region,” he said.The idea exchange was initiated at Cambodia’s request.<div> <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/15/23/27-pinoy-na-biktima-ng-human-trafficking-sa-cambodia-na-rescue">27 Pinoy na biktima ng human trafficking sa Cambodia, na-rescue</a></div>During their visit, the Cambodian delegates also toured the Walang Gutom Kitchen, an anti-hunger program run by the DSWD.The facility is located in Pasay City, in a building that used to be a POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) hub.The delegation also learned about the DSWD’s Pag-Abot Operations program, which aims to rescue street children and homeless families and provide them with shelter and safety.According to Secretary Gatchalian, Cambodia has shown interest in replicating these programs in their own country.

The Philippines and Cambodia exchanged ideas to strengthen their fight against human trafficking—a serious issue both countries are currently facing.

The Philippines and Cambodia exchanged ideas to strengthen their fight against human trafficking—a serious issue both countries are currently facing.