acting in compliance with a lawful order from any of the above, for lawful acts done or
statements made during an authorized rescue operation, recovery or
rehabilitation/intervention, or an investigation or prosecution of an anti-trafficking
case: Provided, That such acts shall have been made in good faith.
"The prosecution of retaliatory suits against victims of trafficking shall be held in
abeyance pending final resolution and decision of criminal complaint for trafficking.
"It shall be prohibited for the DFA, the DOLE, and the POEA officials, law enforcement
officers, prosecutors and judges to urge complainants to abandon their criminal, civil
and administrative complaints for trafficking.
"The remedies of injunction and attachment of properties of the traffickers, illegal
recruiters and persons involved in trafficking may be issued motu proprio by judges."
Section 21. Section 20 of Republic Act No. 9208 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 20. Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. – There is hereby established an
Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, to be composed of the Secretary of the
Department of Justice as Chairperson and the Secretary of the Department of Social
Welfare and Development as Co-Chairperson and shall have the following as members:
"(a) Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs;
"(b) Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment;
"(c) Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government;
"(d) Administrator, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration;
"(e) Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration;
"(f) Chief, Philippine National Police;
"(g) Chairperson, Philippine Commission on Women;
"(h) Chairperson, Commission on Filipinos Overseas;
"(i) Executive Director, Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes; and
"(j) Three (3) representatives from NGOs, who shall include one (1)
representative each from among the sectors representing women, overseas
Filipinos, and children, with a proven record of involvement in the prevention
and suppression of trafficking in persons. These representatives shall be
nominated by the government agency representatives of the Council, for
appointment by the President for a term of three (3) years.
"The members of the Council may designate their permanent representatives who shall
have a rank not lower than an assistant secretary or its equivalent to meetings, and