Binay lauds expanded anti-trafficking law

SAN FERNANDO CITY — Vice President Jejomar Binay said Friday the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act signed by President Benigno Aquino III will support the government’s efforts to be included in the Tier 1 listing of the United States’ Global Trafficking in Persons (GTIP) Report.

“I am very grateful that President Aquino supports our efforts to curb human trafficking in the country and I thank him for strengthening our laws against this menace,” Binay said.
Binay added, “The enactment of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act would mean greater protection for our kababayans, especially the women, children and our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).”

Binay is the chairman emeritus of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and chairman of the Presidential Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment (PTFAIR).

Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on OFW Concerns, particularly commended the inclusion of the crime of attempted trafficking in the expanded law.

He said the inclusion of attempted trafficking now allows the government to become pro-active rather than reactive in eliminating human trafficking cases and prevent OFWs from being abused.
“The previous law only allowed us to file trafficking in persons cases against perpetrators only after the actual act of trafficking had been committed. Because of this, our kababayans had to be subjected to abuse first before trafficking charges could be filed,” Binay said.

Binay cited the cases of human trafficking of OFWs, saying if OFWs were not yet transported abroad, only illegal recruitment charges could be filed against their recruiters.

“Illegal recruitment has a significantly lesser punishment compared to human trafficking violations. With the inclusion of attempted trafficking, trafficking charges, which could be filed against those recruiters with our OFWs not being subjected to abuse,” he said.

Under the new law, violators of attempted trafficking would be facing a penalty of 15 years of imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P1 million.
Trafficking persons carries a penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a P1-million fine, while qualified human trafficking violators face life imprisonment and a P2-million fine.

The anti-trafficking czar said the Philippines has been removed from the Tier 2 Watchlist status of the United State Department’s annual GTIP report barely a year since President Aquino took office.

“For the past two years, we were classified in the Tier 2 status, from Tier 2 Watchlist during the previous administration. That means we are exerting efforts to curb trafficking in the country but we still don’t meet the minimum requirements of the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA),” he said.

“What we are working on now is to be classified as Tier 1, meaning fully compliant with the requirements of the United States,” he added.

Binay said the combined Operations Center of the IACAT and PTFAIR assisted more than 1,300 human trafficking and illegal recruitment victims last year.

He said the IACAT has formed a team dedicated to issuing and monitoring of warrants of arrest of suspected human traffickers.

“This is in line with the recommendations for the Philippines in the GTIP report last year, which was for us to strengthen case monitoring and conviction. I hope our efforts to comply with this recommendation will be recognized by the US State Department when the 2013 GTIP Report comes out in June,” Binay said. (Reynaldo G. Navales)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2013/02/15/binay-lauds-expanded-anti-trafficking-law-268390
Place to go during Holy Week and Easter Holidays in Philippines is Clearwater Resort in Clark Pampanga near Manila where there are plenty of things to do during Easter Holidays and throughout the whole summer too.

Manila residents, local and foreign tourists visiting Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines frequently visit the famous lake of Clark Freeport to unwind and relax. Families with children organize reunion and retreat in the famous Clearwater Resort. During special holidays in the Philippines like Holy Week, Mother’s Day, Father’s day, Halloween, Christmas and New Year, Manila residents travel out of town to the north to relax and unwind in a good resort in Pampanga. During the annual Philippines Hot Air Balloon Fiesta which is always held in Clark, the best hotels and resorts in Clark are packed with visitors.

Travel groups highly recommend Clark Pampanga as safe and clean vacation destination in Philippines. Best private resort in Pampanga is Clearwater, a 13-hectare lake property, child friendly with beach, picnic grounds and small number of cottages. Today, Clark is no longer just a golfer’s paradise, it appears to tourists and visitors who are not just interested to play golf in one of the best golf courses in Pampanga.

Frequently visited private resort in Manila is Clearwater, highly recommended by travel guide for residents of Manila, local and foreign tourists visiting Clark Pampanga for day trip or overnight stay. Parents enjoy a good round of golf in one of the best golf courses in Pampanga while children enjoy the outdoor picnic facilities of the best hotel near Manila, Philippines.

Residents of Manila travel out of town to the north in search for highly recommended tourist spots in Clark, Pampanga. There are good places to visit in Pampanga but the best destination for families from Manila is Clark which is located next to Angeles City, the famous nightlife capital of the Philippines. Here in Clark, there are many interesting places to visit and one of the most frequently visited tourist spots is Clearwater Resort and Country Club, widely regarded as the best resort in Pampanga.

Popular beach resort in North Luzon for company outings and family retreats during Holy Week and Easter Holidays this year is Clearwater located in the safe and convenient destination of Pampanga Clark Philippines just 70 minutes from Manila.

Quiet place for rest and relaxation near Manila, in Subic, Angeles City Pampanga and Clark Philippines is something that residents of Manila travelling to the north for a short getaway are looking for.

For inquiries and bookings, Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort for inquiries and reservations now

Clearwater Resort and Country Club, Clark Pampanga
Creekside Road near Centennial Expo,
Clark Freeport, Pampanga Philippines 2023
(045) 889-5151 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177
Joanne or Jeremy or Loydha

Getting to this lake and beach resort in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines

After entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway MA Roxas, passing the stand-along wine shop called Clark Wine Center on the right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, one will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on the right just 200m down.

Family Bonding by the famous lake of Clark Pampanga

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort to reserve a venue for your upcoming event now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com

Hot Line for what’s happening in Clark: 045 889-5151 or 0927-940-2669 ask for Loydha

0915-542-6250 (Jeramie)