likewise advocate for the inclusion of the issue of trafficking in persons in both its local
and international advocacy for women's issues.
(f) Bureau of Immigration (BI) - shall strictly administer and enforce immigration and
alien administration laws. It shall adopt measures for the apprehension of suspected
traffickers both at the place of arrival and departure and shall ensure compliance by the
Filipino fiancés/fiancées and spouses of foreign nationals with the guidance and
counseling requirement as provided for in this Act.
(g) Philippine National Police (PNP) - shall be the primary law enforcement agency to
undertake surveillance, investigation and arrest of individuals or persons suspected to
be engaged in trafficking. It shall closely coordinate with various law enforcement
agencies to secure concerted efforts for effective investigation and apprehension of
suspected traffickers. It shall also establish a system to receive complaints and calls to
assist trafficked persons and conduct rescue operations.
(h) Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) - shall implement an
effective pre-employment orientation seminars and pre-departure counseling programs
to applicants for overseas employment. It shall likewise formulate a system of providing
free legal assistance to trafficked persons.
(i) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) - shall institute a systematic
information and prevention campaign and likewise maintain a databank for the effective
monitoring, documentation and prosecution of cases on trafficking in persons.
(j) Local government units (LGUs) - shall monitor and document cases of trafficking in
persons in their areas of jurisdiction, effect the cancellation of licenses of
establishments which violate the provisions of this Act and ensure effective prosecution
of such cases. They shall also undertake an information campaign against trafficking in
persons through the establishment of the Migrants Advisory and Information Network
(MAIN) desks in municipalities or provinces in coordination with DILG, Philippine
Information Agency (PIA), Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), NGOs and other
concerned agencies. They shall encourage and support community based initiatives
which address the trafficking in persons.
In implementing this Act, the agencies concerned may seek and enlist the assistance of
NGOs, people's organizations (Pos), civic organizations and other volunteer groups.
Section 17. Legal Protection to Trafficked Persons. - Trafficked persons shall be recognized as victims
of the act or acts of trafficking and as such shall not be penalized for crimes directly related to the acts
of trafficking enumerated in this Act or in obedience to the order made by the trafficker in relation
thereto. In this regard, the consent of a trafficked person to the intended exploitation set forth in this Act
shall be irrelevant.
Section 18. Preferential Entitlement Under the Witness Protection Program. - Any provision of
Republic Act No. 6981 to the contrary notwithstanding, any trafficked person shall be entitled to the
witness protection program provided therein.
Section 19. Trafficked Persons Who are Foreign Nationals. - Subject to the guidelines issued by the
Council, trafficked persons in the Philippines who are nationals of a foreign country shall also be
entitled to appropriate protection, assistance and services available to trafficked persons under this