ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), in partnership with the city government and key stakeholders, reaffirmed their united front against human trafficking and exploitation during the three-day Barangay IACAT Program launched on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
Themed “Iisang Nasyon, Iisang Aksyon: Tapusin ang OSAEC at Human Trafficking Ngayon,” the initiative runs until Friday, August 29. It aims to strengthen collaboration in combating Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and other forms of trafficking by promoting awareness and preventive strategies at the barangay level, particularly in vulnerable communities in Zamboanga City—long known as a hotspot for human trafficking and considered a gateway to the south.
The launch at City Hall’s conference room was led by IACAT officials, in partnership with Mayor Khymer Olaso, represented by City Administrator Percival Ramos and Chief of Staff Celso Lobregat. DOJ Assistant Secretary Michelle Anne Lapuz, together with IACAT Secretariat and Executive Director Atty. Hannah Lizette Manalili, expressed confidence in Zamboanga’s active participation and assured full national government support.
Lapuz praised the city for proposing new facilities and programs for trafficking survivors, as well as allocating additional resources to strengthen enforcement of local ordinances. She emphasized that while the Barangay IACAT approach is not a “silver bullet,” empowering communities, strengthening family foundations, improving data systems, and building proactive coordination are key to preventing trafficking at its roots.
Manalili highlighted that trafficking victims funneled through Zamboanga are not only locals but also individuals from other regions en route to Malaysia and other foreign destinations. This makes Zamboanga a critical transit hub where vigilance and local participation are indispensable.
The city government also reported recent milestones, including the arrest of a lawyer implicated in child exploitation and the rescue of 38 trafficking victims, among them four minors, in coordinated operations with law enforcement and social welfare agencies.
As part of the three-day activities, a motorcade from Pettit Barracks to Paseo del Mar and a press conference at City Hall were held on Thursday, August 28. The afternoon featured a capacity-building session at the Grand Astoria Function Hall where barangay officials were trained on spotting red-flag indicators, strengthening referral mechanisms, and aligning anti-trafficking protocols. Friday, August 29, will be devoted to coastal barangay visits in Rio Hondo, Talon-Talon, Tictabon, Mariki, and Arena Blanco—areas considered highly vulnerable to trafficking and irregular migration.
Discussions during the campaign also raised concerns over gaps at the barangay level, family abuse, and challenges faced by survivors. Stakeholders called for the reconstitution of the Justice Zone, standardization of reporting protocols, reactivation of a One Stop Shop, and more accessible support services for victims.
The initiative brought together representatives from the Department of Justice, NBI-9, the Women and Children Protection Center–Mindanao Field Unit, DILG-9, the City Legal Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, Katilingban sa Kalambuan, Inc. (KKI), Commission on Filipino Overseas, as well as various civil society groups, private institutions, and law enforcement agencies.
IACAT, the country’s primary body against trafficking, was created under Republic Act No. 9208 (2003), strengthened through RA 10364 (2012), and further expanded by RA 11862 (2022), which broadened its scope, penalties, and protection mechanisms for victims and survivors.
With Zamboanga’s history as a trafficking hotspot and a “backdoor exit” to the south, officials emphasized that the city’s proactive engagement in the campaign is vital in breaking trafficking networks, protecting vulnerable populations, and reinforcing its position as a key battleground in the fight against exploitation.