CFO Chairperson Acosta: “PH Govt Commits to Fight All Forms of Human Trafficking!”

Human trafficking group table discussion with the Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles, Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC). (Los Angeles PCG photo) 

LOS ANGELES 10 December 2019 –– Philippine Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz accompanied the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) delegation, headed by Former Associate Justice Francisco P. Acosta, hold a group table discussion with the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) under the leadership of its Executive Director Aquilina Soriano-Versoza The meeting was held at the PWC’s Larry Itliong Hall in Los Angeles, CA on 25 November 2019.

The discussion was initiated by the Consulate General to facilitate the exchange of information between the PWC and CFO on the management of migration issues arising from the employment of Filipino teachers through J-1 visa.

During the discussion, CFO Chair Francisco P. Acosta assured PWC of the Philippine government’s commitment to protect the welfare of all overseas Filipinos and its plan to pursue a government-to-government employment arrangement for Filipino Special Education teachers. To this end, the Philippine government has created a technical working group, composed of relevant Philippine government agencies, that is tasked to study the arrangement.

Furthermore, CFO Chair Acosta informed PWC that human-trafficking cases could immediately be reported through the Philippine hotline number 1343. He likewise shared the successes of the Philippine government in running after recruitment agencies with reported abuses through either suspension or revocation of license.

Executive Director Soriano-Versoza shared PWC’s mission and how it has handled human- trafficking cases and other issues of Overseas Filipinos since the organization’s inception in 1997.  She also narrated the stories and plight of undocumented Filipino workers in the United States to whom PWC have extended assistance. Of particular highlight was the case of “Nanay Fedelina”, a Filipina who was kept in slave-like conditions for more than six decades and recently won her case against her traffickers. The delegation had the opportunity to meet her after the meeting.

CFO presented “Virtual Sentro Rizal Second Edition” to PWC, as a token of appreciation, at the end of the meeting. END

Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairperson Francisco P. Acosta presents “Virtual Sentro Rizal Second Edition”, as a token of appreciation to Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) Executive Director Aquilina Soriano-Versoza. (Los Angeles PCG photo)

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