Nagpahayag ng suporta ang Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines–Episcopal Commission on Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) sa pinaigting na kampanya ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) laban sa illegal recruiters.

Hinimok ni Balanga (Bataan) Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, chairman ng CBCP-ECMI ang administrasyon na iklase ang human trafficking at illegal recruitment bilang karumal-dumal na krimen.

Ang mga lalabag dito ay dapat parusahan ng habambuhay na pagkakakulong at kumpiskahin ang kanilang mga proyedad upang ipamahagi sa mga kawawang naging biktima nila, diin ni Santos sa Radio Veritas ng simbahan.

“Illegal recruiters must be identified, arrested, and made answerable for their crime. We are pushing for human trafficking and illegal recruitment to be classified as heinous crimes. Individuals proven guilty must be made to suffer life imprisonment, ‘reclusion perpetua’ without parole. Their properties must also be confiscated to help their innocent victims,” sabi ng obispo.

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Batay sa 2013 Commission for Filipino Overseas (CFO) Compendium of Statistics, mayroong halos 1.34 milyong hindi dokumentadong Pilipino sa ibang bansa na nabiktima ng mga illegal recruiter.

Nag-aalok ang DOLE ng P50,000 pabuya sa sinumang positibong makapagtuturo sa isang illegal recruiter.

“I encourage the public to be wary of illegal recruiters, not to allow themselves to be victimized, and to help in the government’s campaign to finally put a stop to the illegal activity,” ani Santos. (Christina I. Hermoso)