Philippine bishops urge stronger diocesan action against trafficking

By Fr Mark Robin Destura, RCJ

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) renewed its call for stronger Church structures to address human trafficking, as it observed the National Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking on February 1.

In a statement, the bishops warned that the country continues to suffer from multiple forms of exploitation, including illegal recruitment, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and the growing threat of online abuse, particularly involving children.

They described human trafficking as a “serious and persistent concern” that affects many Filipinos, especially in urban areas, and urged closer cooperation between the Church and government authorities.

Citing data from the United Nations Global Programme against Trafficking in Human Beings, the survey noted that the majority of trafficking victims in the Philippines are adult females, followed by minor females. Most cases originate from Metro Manila and other urban centers.

Digital danger

The situation has worsened with the expansion of digital platforms, where traffickers use deceptive online recruitment schemes, offering false promises of employment both domestically and abroad.

The bishops pointed to poverty, lack of education, armed conflict, and recurring natural disasters as key factors that increase vulnerability to trafficking. These conditions, they said, are often exploited through online channels that prey on people seeking economic stability.

“Human trafficking is not merely a social issue; it is a profound moral concern that calls for conversion of hearts and transformation of systems,” the bishops said, emphasizing the Church’s responsibility to protect the vulnerable and challenge structures that allow exploitation to persist. They expressed their intention to support national anti-trafficking efforts through diocesan initiatives suited to the Church’s resources and pastoral mission.

Diocesan action against trafficking

In a separate statement, Bishop Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa, chair of the CBCP Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, called on dioceses to establish and strengthen Diocesan Committees Against Human Trafficking. He said these committees would help ensure a coordinated pastoral and institutional response to trafficking across the country.

According to the commission, about 12 diocesan committees have been established over the past three years, mostly in Luzon. Bishop Mesiona also encouraged parishes to integrate anti-trafficking awareness into their pastoral programs, urging them to become “spaces of vigilance, education, and protection.”

International Day

The appeal of the Philippine bishops comes ahead of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, observed annually on February 8, a day instituted by Pope Francis and marked on the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint of trafficking survivors. Pope Francis has repeatedly described human trafficking as a “scourge” that gravely violates human dignity.