BARMM, migrants’ group create special task force vs human trafficking

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and migrants’ group Blas F. Ople Policy Center on Tuesday signed an agreement creating a special task force against human trafficking.

BARMM Executive Secretary Abudlraof Macacua and Ople Center head Susan Ople signed the memorandum of agreement in Cotabato City, Tuesday morning.

The agreement was designed to address human trafficking issues involving overseas job applicants from the BARMM territory.

Under the memorandum, the BARMM OFW Task Force would handle human trafficking cases involving OFWs. This included the building and filing of cases against trafficking perpetrators.

The special task force would also create a policy framework for BARMM so it could counter modern slavery while providing aftercare and legal services to its victims.

Meanwhile, the Ople Center would provide capacity-building and training programs to BARMM personnel and would assist OFWs from the region who were in dire need of repatriation assistance.

“Out of the more than 2 million OFWs in the Middle East, at least 60 percent are employed as domestic workers,” Ople said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, we continue to handle cases involving minors and women from BARMM areas who were treated as slaves abroad,” she added, emphasizing the importance of the agreement. — Joviland Rita/DVM, GMA News