RP, Malaysia's anti-human trafficking efforts exemplary -- DOJ

MANILA, Nov. 8 (PNA) — Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor said that the anti-human trafficking efforts between the Philippines and Malaysia is exemplary and should be well the “text-book case” on how to handle transnational crimes.

Blancaflor made this statement shortly after Philippine and Malaysian authorities, operating jointly in Kuala Lumpur, succeeded in arresting and charging a Singaporean national, identified as a certain “Alfred Lim”, who was positively identified by two Filipinas as the one who recruited them in Manila and afterwards had them worked for employers who abused and mistreated them.

The victims managed to get even with their erstwhile tormentor when one of them managed to escape and report the incident to the Philippine embassy, which then forwarded the information to the DOJ and its Malaysian counterparts, who, in turn, coordinated and planned for the suspect’s neutralization.

Lim is facing human trafficking charges both here and in Malaysia.

The DOJ undersecretary said that he will present this success to the coming ASEAN prosecutors’ meeting as a model on how to deal with border-to-border crimes.

Blancaflor attributed the smooth cooperation of RP-Malaysian authorities to the close relationship, linkages and communication between the two governments and their respective law enforcement offices.

”The moment we send our request to the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), requesting the urgent arrest of Lim, swift assistance and cooperation were given to us,” the DOJ undersecretary further stated.

Blancaflor also added that he is hopeful that other nations in the Southeast Asian region would emulate the example of the Philippine and Malaysian in coordinating action against suspected human traffickers operating in the area.

“This is a giant step in our campaign against human trafficking. However, we need to be able to undertake the same effort consistently and in partnership with other governments in behalf of other human trafficking victims,” Susan Ople, president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center earlier said.