TIP: PHILIPPINES BRIEFED ON 2005 REPORT

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