The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) on Wednesday disclosed that human trafficking victims are no longer limited to the lower-income sector, with a growing number of educated Filipinos falling prey to forced labor schemes abroad.
This was revealed by IACAT Executive Director Hannah Lizette Manalili of the Department of Justice during a press conference.
“Nagkaroon na po ng shift actually sa vulnerability. So traditionally those who are vulnerable are those who are in the lower economic income bracket…,” said Manalili.
“Now we have seen a shift especially in terms of forced labor being the highest ngayon number of trafficking. There is a shift for human trafficking—nakapag-aral po na mga kababayan natin who are being offered opportunities outside the Philippines,” she added.
Manalili said these victims are often recruited with promises of high-paying jobs. But upon arriving in their host countries where they were supposedly hired as IT or computer experts, they are instead forced to work as scammers.
Meanwhile, IACAT reported that 50 individuals have been convicted of various human trafficking offenses during the first half of 2025.
“This is our strong commitment, not only to rescue victims but to file cases against their perpetrators,” Manalili said.
Of the 50 convicted, 14 were found guilty of sex trafficking, and one was convicted for illegal child adoption. These were among the 111 individuals charged by IACAT and its member agencies.
Manalili said IACAT also provided support to 900 trafficking victims in the first half of 2025 through its operations center.
Separately, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Baguio reported that it served 1,371 survivors of human trafficking from January to June 2025 through its Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPEP).
Speaking on behalf of DSWD-Baguio Director Rachel Jean, a staff representative said the RRPEP remains vital in helping survivors recover and reintegrate into society. The program is anchored on Republic Act No. 10364, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.
“This is a comprehensive rehabilitation and education program for trafficked persons. We advocate strongly for RRPEP because it treats victim-survivors not as mere cases, but as individuals who need holistic care,” the representative said during a briefing.
Funded by the General Appropriations Act, RRPEP offers both cash and non-cash assistance, including support for employment, housing, court-related transportation, medical needs, and education. Non-cash services include psychosocial counseling and inter-agency coordination for long-term support.
“All trafficking victims receive the help of a licensed social worker. These are professionals who assess the survivors’ needs, draw up intervention plans, and monitor their progress, much like doctors or lawyers,” the staff member added.
Of the 1,371 survivors served, 75 percent were women and 25 percent men, mostly aged 18 to 30. The leading causes of trafficking were forced labor, forced prostitution, and illegal recruitment.
The DSWD spent P3.33 million in cash aid over the six-month period. Non-cash services were extended to all clients. Of the total, 1,060 were newly enrolled in 2025, while 311 were ongoing cases from previous years.