Posted by Leah Cantos in The Filipina | 7 Comments
Filipinas can help stop prostitution/illegal recruitment
This is a post I wrote in my CuatroCantos blog November last year. This concens a news report regarding prostitution in the provinces. Please read on and let me know what you think.
I saw the early evening news one night. There was the usual news on parties debating about Erap’s pardon; some politicians blatantly talking about their desire to run for presidency in 2010 (mahiya kayo sa balat nyo!!!, yung iba dyan, umpisa palang ng termino!)There was also something about Beyonce’s concert. But what got my attention though, is the crime report. The crime watch team chanced upon 2 young Filipinas running restlessly along a local road in Pangasinan.
When the reporter interviewed them, they said that they were victims of illegal recruitment. A lady had recruited them to become cashiers at a canteen somewhere in Pangasinan. The young girls along with another one went with the lady only to find out that they will be working as prostitutes at a local night club. The other girl is still at the night club and they need help to get her out of there. They asked help from the baranggay and police, but when they went there, the other girl did not want to go with them, she wanted to stay.
The lady who recruited them said the young girls were the ones who wanted to go with her because they wanted to get away from their drug-hooked husbands. She added that even if they were put in a night club (instead of a canteen), there’s no problem with that because they are not minors anymore. In the end, the lady recruiter got away and the 3 young girls did not press any charges. The baranggay just let it go as well.
Whew, the guts of that lady! She deceived them! Yes, the girls, maybe of age, but did they know that they were to be locked up in a sex den? This is sad. Filipinas preying on Filipinas. Scenarios like these have been shown on TV, but still, a lot of Filipinas are victimized. These recruiters scout young girls from remote, impoverished baranggays promising them a good livelihood in the cities working as cashiers in canteens, store clerks, or staff in a small offices. No complicated requirements, just as long as you can read and write. These girls give in only to find out that they will be sold like meat in the market.
I think what should’ve happened is, the 3 girls received counselling from the local DSWD unit. The police and baranggay pursue the closure of the night club. I think baranggays should put up an awareness campaign about illegal recruiters, human trafficking and prostitution. The baranggay and SK unit can give lectures about these. What is human trafficking? What is prositution? Show some statitistics. The modus operandi. What should you do when come across someone whom you think is an illegal recruiter.
Here is a sample pamphlet that I would distribute to the baranggay for information about illegal local recruitment:
PANAWAGAN: Mag-ingat sa mga illegal recruiter!!!
- Ang mga illegal recruiter ay mga taong maaring kumatok sa inyong bahay at mag-alok o mangako ng trabaho sa siyudad o sa Maynila. Mayroong ilan na may opisina pa at maaring hingan ka pa ng bayad.
- Ang mga illegal recruiter ay walang maayos na papeles at identification na maipapakita sayo.
- Ang isang kaduda-duda sa mga illegal recruiter ay ang pag-alok nila ng trabaho sa isang canteen o opisina sa isang malayong lugar. Kaduda-duda ito dahil malamang marami naman aplikante sa lugar malapit sa inaalok na trabaho ngunit bakit kailangan pang humanap sa malayong lugar? Ginagawa ito ng mga illegal recruiter upang hindi makaalis at makabalik sa kani-kanilang lugar ang mga na-recruit nila.
- Hanapan ng kaukulang ID ang recruiter. Kunin ang address ng iniaalok na trabaho. Hingan ng NBI, Police at baranggay clearance.
- Alertohan ang baranggay, maaring maglibot pa ang illegal recruiter sa buong baranggay at mga karatig baranggay.
- Komunsulta sa Women’s desk ng malapit na Police Station at sa baranggay.
- Huwag magpaloko. Kung may duda, mas mabuting huwag patulan ang alok.
Ano ang dapat mong gawin kung may mag-alok sayo ng trabaho at sa tingin mo ay isa itong illegal recruiter:
This is what I can think of for now and this can be improved. I am going to suggest this to my baranggay, I hope they don’t shrug it off. You may also suggest the same to your baranggays. Do you have other ideas on how we Filipinas can help bring an end to this malicious doing?
I think I have been far too detached from the Philippines having grown up elsewhere that I can’t think of any ideas that may work. But I still agree that that was a horrible scenario and something should have been done. Did all the girls end up staying? Maybe the girl said she wanted to stay only because she felt she had no choice?
Hi!
This scenario is way too common now. specially in far flung areas in the province. daming nabibiktima. They become prostitutes somewhere else, and sometimes nga in neighboring asian countries pa. Your idea is ok enough, mas direct to the baranggay level.
Hi Alice,
I think the 2 girls went back to their home town like nothing happened and the other girl stayed. This is really sad. Like what you said, maybe she thinks “eto na, napasubo na ako e”.
Thanks Deb. I think one reason also that is attracting these young girls to this kind of recruitment is that, the job (kuno) is the one after them. They do not have to waste their time in job application lines. They do not have to submit any requirements. We all know how hard it is to find a job nowadays. It would also help if the baranggay had a livelihood program where educational attainment is not really a major requirement, a person’s willingness to work and to learn would suffice.
dahil na din sa kahirapan kaya sila nahahantong sa ganyan.dapat mas palawigin at gampanan ang batas sa ganyan kalakaran.
yes kabayan, isa pa nga ang problema na yan. kaakibat ng mga batas laban sa illegal recruitment at prostitution. Maigi rin na palawigin ang mga programang pangkabuhayan sa mga rural areas.
its realy more imported situation and its very helpfull share,thanks