CEDAW/C/PHL/7-8 (a) Expands the list of acts considered as promoting human trafficking such as recruitment in the guise of domestic or overseas employment for sexual exploitation, forced labour or involuntary debt bondage, destroying or tampering with evidence, influencing witnesses in an investigation, and using public office to impede an investigation or execute lawful orders; (b) Stiffer penalties: Those guilty of trafficking can be sentenced to 6 to 40 years in prison and fines ranging from P50,000 to 5 million. Attempted trafficking is punishable by imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of P500,000 to P1 million; (c) Public announcement of persons accused of human trafficking to warn possible victims and prohibition of the disclosure of the name and personal circumstances of victims of trafficking; (d) Conduct of pre-departure counselling services for Filipinos in intermarriages, to prevent women in intermarriages from being victimized by human trafficking in the guise of marriage; and, (e) Increase in funding for government agencies involved in the fight against human trafficking. 68. The State Party’s Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT), as a State mechanism, developed the following policies and guidelines to enhance the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases where trafficking in persons occur: (a) Standard Operating Procedures for Task Forces Against Trafficking in Persons in International Airports; (b) Manual on Law Enforcement and Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons Cases; and (c) Model Local Ordinance against Trafficking in Persons. 69. To improve detection and apprehension, the IACAT established task forces to immediately intercept the operations of suspected trafficking syndicates at airports, land, and water transit points and to respond to trafficking cases. These include the Department of Justice Task Force on Trafficking, which is composed of especially trained prosecutors from the central office, and regional and city offices; and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Task Force on Trafficking, which is made up of various law enforcers who monitor suspected incidents of trafficking in persons (TIP) at the airport, intercept undocumented passengers, provide assistance to returning TIP victims and help file TIP cases. A forensic document examination laboratory was also installed at the international airport to detect fraudulent travel papers. 70. In terms of convictions, as of January 2014, the State Party has had 118 convictions involving 137 convicted persons. There was a notable increase in convictions from 2005-2010 to 2010-2014 (January) as the figures below show: Years No. of convictions No. of persons convicted 2005-2010 (up to June) 29 30 July 2010-Jan 2014 89 107 118 137 Total Mechanisms and programs to improve response and support to victims 71. The IACAT is the State Party’s mechanisms that coordinates and monitors the implementation efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Its establishment was 18/36 15-03079