US embassy cable - 05MANILA2599

UNCLAS MANILA 002599 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, EAP, EAP/PMBS, EAP/PD 
LABOR FOR ILAB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, OPRC, KPAO, KWMN, RP 
SUBJECT: TIP:  PHILIPPINES BRIEFED ON 2005 REPORT 
 
REF: A. STATE 100366 
     B. STATE 98057 
 
1.  (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified -- Please 
handle accordingly. 
 
2.  (SBU) Acting Polcouns on June 3 reviewed the Philippine 
portion of the 2005 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report with 
Ruth Morales Prado, Executive Director of the Office of 
American Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs.  He 
also reviewed Philippine-specific points contained in Ref B, 
and noted that report and points were under embargo until 
after the press event at Department on June 3.  Per the 
report, he emphasized the need for enhanced efforts by the 
GRP to move forward with prosecutions and to obtain 
convictions, as well as the need for the GRP to address 
allegations of corruption and fraud in the issuance of 
documents related to Filipino entertainers working overseas. 
 
3.  (SBU) Prado did not have any substantive comments in 
regard to the continued placement of the Philippines on the 
Tier Two Watch List.  She said she appreciated the briefing, 
and related that she would share USG points with GRP agencies 
working on anti-trafficking issues in the law enforcement and 
social welfare fields. 
 
4.  (SBU) Public Affairs Counselor has reviewed key elements 
of the report with Ignacio Bunye, President Arroyo's Press 
Secretary.  Mission has also briefed Gabby Claudio, the chief 
 
SIPDIS 
political adviser to Arroyo. 
 
5.  (U) Mission will be posting a press statement, as well as 
the Philippine report, on its website on June 4 and will show 
the video of the Secretary's briefing at a June 6 press 
event.  An interactive "web chat" on the Virtual Consulate 
Davao website is scheduled for June 8. 
 
MUSSOMELI