The Commission on Human Rights has launched a motu proprio investigation on an alleged case of human trafficking involving lumad victims from Quezon, Bukidnon after information was received from various labor groups.

Thirty-four (34) of them were able to escape a fish pen in Sual, Pangasinan after being forced to work 15 hours a day and were not paid of agreed wages. Twenty-eight of the victims went to the central office of the Commission to ask for assistance. Our team, together with representatives of various groups, assisted the lumad victims to the Batasan Police Station VI (IBP Road, Brgy. Batasan Hills, Quezon City) to have their complaints recorded in the police blotter.

As an immediate intervention, the Commission, together with the National Commission on Indigenous People, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (Central and National Capital Region), and Civil Society Organizations, provided financial and transportation assistance for their return in Bukidnon.

Seventeen (17) lumads, who were also recruited to work in the similar fish pen, were rescued by CHR with the help of the Philippine National Police-Sual, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Pangasinan, and MSWDO-Sual. They are now currently staying in a shelter in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

A similar case occurred in a fish pen in Rosario, La Union where 10 alleged lumad victims of human trafficking escaped. The Commission’s field office in Region I is closely monitoring the incident.

The motu proprio investigation conducted by CHR on human rights violation committed to the farmers of the Tindoga clan in Quezon, Bukidnon is pursuant to its mandate to “provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights of all persons within the Philippines, as well as Filipinos residing abroad, and provide for preventive measures and legal aid services to the under-privileged whose human rights have been violated or need protection.” #