VP Binay probes human trafficking for deep sea fishing case in NegOr
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 25 (PIA) Vice-President Jejomar Binay has directed concerned government agencies of Negros Oriental to file appropriate charges against the owner and officials of a fishing company, Peska Maharlika Marine Resources, Inc for alleged human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
VP Binay visited Dumaguete City yesterday to personally investigate the complaints of 38 Pesca’s fish-workers reported at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The 38 workers were among of the 250 fishermen recruited illegally from Ayungon, Negros Oriental for a five-trip, 10-month deep sea fishing expedition off Palawan since July last year. Five of the 250 fishermen have reportedly died during the expedition, reported DOLE Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga.
In a collaborative conference, VP Binay firmly give order to the local Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice (DOJ) , Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and members of the Provincial Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (PIACAT) to assist and act at once the fish-workers’ case to get the justice they need.
The workers also complained of inhuman working conditions such as lack of health and safety measures, excessive working hours, and the employment of minors.
Pesca also recruited eight minors, who have not been issued the required fish worker’s identification cards by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said Sarcauga.
In his briefing to VP Binay, Dir. Sarcauga reported, “The fishermen were required to work from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. with only one to two hours of meal and rest periods. They were required to dive to depths of 14 to 20 dupa (each dupa is approximately 1.4 meters).”
The common complaint of the fish workers is the unclear deduction from the promised shared of 20 percent of the gross sales which being denied by Pesca, despite gross revenues of more than P47 million from 25,000 tubs of fish, DOLE reported.
With serious violations of various labor laws, including abuse, VP Binay vowed to file cases against the owner and officials of the erring fishing company. (PIA NegOr/JCT)