Mariing kinondena ng migrants’ ministry ng Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines ang laganap na human trafficking hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo.
Ayon kay Balanga Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos, Vice Chairman ng Komisyon, ang human trafficking ay nagdudulot ng labis na pinsala sa isang indibidwal at sa buong pamilya.
“Human trafficking is a major scourge in our society. It is exploitation to the highest degree because it destroys lives especially of the vulnerable-children and of women- to whom we should always accord protection, caring and security,” pahayag ni Bishop Santos sa Radio Veritas.
Batid ng Opisyal na ang human trafficking ay makabagong uri ng pang-aalipin at karumaldumal na krimen laban sa kapwa.
Labis na ikinalungkot ng Obispo ang kawalang paggalang sa buhay na magandang biyayang kaloob ng Diyos sa sangkatauhan.
“Human trafficking is most cruel and brutal act a man can inflict to his fellowman. One being trafficked or illegally recruited is taken not as a person, not as a human being but as a tool for profit or for pleasure. He is considered as mere commodity,” ani Bishop Santos.
Ang pahayag ni Bishop Santos ay kasabay ng paggunita sa World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking na ginugunita tuwing February 8 kasabay ng Kapistahan ni Saint Josephine Bakhita, ang patron ng mga biktima ng pang-aalipin at pananamantala.
Sa datos ng 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report: Philippines ng Amerika naitala ang 1, 443 biktima ng trafficking na karamihan ay sex trafficking victims at mga kabataan.
Tiniyak ni Bishop Santos sa mga biktima ng pang-aabuso na bukas ang Simbahan para kalingain ang kanilang hanay at mabigyang proteksyon sa lipunan.
“The Church welcomes them and they can find home in her. The Church sees and realizes their everyday struggle, sacrifices and even sufferings. The Church prays hard for their deliverance from those who has evil plans and selfish motives, provides what is beneficial to them and works to bring them safely back home,” giit ng Obispo.
Nauna nang umapela si Pope Francis sa bawat isa na tulungan ang mga biktima ng human trafficking kaya’t sinabi ni Bishop Santos na nakahanda ang simbahan sa pakikipagtulungan ng iba’t ibang sektor upang tumugon sa panawagan ng Santo Papa.
“Heeding to the call of our beloved Holy Father we must search out for them and rescue them from slavery of human trafficking. We help them to rebuild their lives and give them hope by reintegrating them to our family and to our Church. With our acceptance and caring we restore to them their dignity and self-worth,” ani Bishop Santos.
