A forum on Philippine Immigration and Anti-Human Trafficking Policies was held at the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam on 30 September 2012. Resource persons during the forum included Ms. Ruby T. Ramores, Executive Officer of the Strategic Management and Special Operations of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) – Department of Justice (DoJ), Atty. Grace Gaudelyn B. Lara, Head Executive Assistant, Office of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration, and Atty. Patricia Lauren D. Zuñiga, Executive Assistant, Office of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration.

In his Introductory Remarks, H.E. Ambassador Nestor Z. Ochoa welcomed all participants to the forum. “We have invited our resource persons to discuss and clarify measures being undertaken by Philippine government agencies to address human trafficking, and to talk on the Guidelines for Filipinos departing for abroad.” He noted that the forum is one of the priority projects identified during the First Meeting of the Council of Philippine Embassies and Missions in ASEAN Countries (COPEMAC) held in Bangkok, Thailand on 19-20 April 2012.

“I hope that this Forum will help us obtain a better understanding of the work being done by the Philippine government to protect you and our other countrymen from human trafficking and at the same time provide an opportunity for you to air your concerns over incidents of off-loading involving your members of your family,” he added.

As the IACAT representative in the panel, Ms. Ramores began her presentation by informing the public of Philippine government’s National Strategic Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons for 2012-2016 which is divided into the following key results area: Advocacy and Prevention, Protection and Integration, Partnership and Networking. She further discussed her recent experiences in the evacuation of OFWs from war-torn Syria.

Atty. Zuñiga discussed in extensive detail the Bureau of Immigration’s implementation of the Guidelines on Departure Formalities. She noted that Filipino travelers are generally classified into 4 categories: tourists, OFWs, immigrants or holders of permanent resident visas, and those falling under special cases. Each of these categories of travelers have their own specific documentary requirements.

Atty. Zuniga also clarified that under the Philippine Constitution, the right to travel or freedom to move from one place to another is not absolute, as there are constitutional, statutory and inherent limitations regulating the right to travel.

The open forum that immediately followed enabled members of the OFW Community to raise questions and express their sentiments on a host of issues (.i.e. the offloading of family members and friends, documents required for travel, etc.)

The following day, Philippine Embassy officials held a separate meeting with the resource persons to discuss ways at enhancing coordination between the DFA, BI and IACAT in addressing immigration and human trafficking issues, especially those that affect family members and friends of OFWs visiting Brunei Darussalam. END