Davao City – With the recent signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) of the Philippine Information Agency in Region XI (PIA XI), Talikala, Inc. and AWO International, the first session for the media forum series on trafficking in person (TIP) and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSEC) was conducted on April 29 here in Davao City.
PIA Regional Director Frances Mae Macapagat said, “For the part of PIA, we want to continue our mandate of providing media literacy, especially on social issues to help the government, other sectors to improve and better policies and also, intervention especially on the issues of TIP and OSEC”.
Invited speaker was Deputy Regional Prosecutor Barbara May Flores of the Department of Justice in Region XI. She emphasized the three key elements that must be present for a situation of trafficking in persons to exist during the filing of cases in court. These are acts, or action during the recruitment; means, if the accused threaten the victim during the recruitment; and purpose, if the accused is found that the exploitation was done.
She said any person found guilty of committing any of the acts enumerated in Section 4 of R.A. No. 10304 shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of not less than P1 million but not more than P2 million.
With this initial media forum series, Jeanette Ampog, Talikala, Inc. Executive Director in Davao Region thanked the PIA XI for partnering with Talikala in conducting the media forum.
She emphasized that the media is the “public opinion shaper”.
“The media are our partners in advocating protection for women and children, wherein so far, Talikala has been working with victims of trafficking and prostitution, as well as child sexual abuse and prevention. We worked with barangay officials, as well as city government officials and agencies to promote and disseminate the purpose of our advocacy,” Ampog said.
Attendees in the face-to-face and virtual media forum were some members of Davao media, local government units (LGUs) information officers and national and local anti-trafficking advocates in the region. (Luisa D. Pepito, PIA XI | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)