TALIKALA Inc. urged the national government to provide services and job creation to former pimps to curb down commercial sex trade in Davao City.
During the Kapihan sa PIA on July 22, Jeanette Ampog, Talikala executive director, explained they were also planning to reach out to such groups to educate them.
“Mas maayo nga ma-educate sila aron makita nila nga violation ilang ginabuhat katungod sa mga babae ang pagbaligya sa ilaha sa mga dalan. While nakatubag na saimong panginahanglan sa ekonomiya, pero you are still violating other people’s human rights. We can educate them but we also have to look at how important na hatagan sila’g serbisyo aron dili na na mag-pimp or bugaw,” Ampog said.
She said the government, aside from the enforcement and knowledge building, should also provide services for this sector.
“The government should offer alternatives for these people. Kay mapuno na diha sa prisohan. If i-persecute or ikulong nimo sila, nasabtan ba nila nga inig makagawas na sila, dili na dapat sila mubalik ana,” she added.
Talikala, a non-governmental organization, offers support and training to women and girls who have been forced into the sex trade in Davao City.
Atty. Norman Solis, RATTF XI provincial prosecutor, said “They must be one step ahead of such perpetrators.”
According to Solis, the Department of Justice in Davao Region has recorded 79 cases of human trafficking since the year 2012, 38 related or convicted cases, 42 were dismissed due to lack of evidence, 28 were archived, and 8 were withdrawn. Among the 79 cases, 55 of which were from Davao City.
Some of the cases were prosecuted from online platforms such as Facebook, Messenger, LINE, and Viber.
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking is set to conduct activities for World Trafficking Day on July 30 to bring awareness and education campaigns among youth leaders in Davao Region.
