PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. spoke at the closing ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Malaysia, as the ASEAN Chairmanship for 2026 was officially turned over to the Philippines, Oct. 28. — PPA POOL

By Adrian H. Halili, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES should use its position as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year to advance anti-human trafficking policies amid the influx of scam hubs in the region, analysts said.

The Philippines can leverage its chairship to address concerns on human trafficking, particularly in Myanmar, Francis M. Esteban, associate dean at the Far Eastern University’s Institute of Arts and Sciences, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

He added that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Migrant Workers (DMW) should bolster its anti-human trafficking efforts.

“The Philippine government, through the mentioned agencies should double its efforts in making sure that OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) have the right access to information, and assistance to avoid such instances of human trafficking,” he said.

Last week, the DFA reported that more than 200 Filipinos applied for repatriation after they were recruited into scam hubs, most of which were in Myanmar.

“The smuggling and human trafficking operations require regional and global cooperation,” Hansley A. Juliano, a political science lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University said in a Messenger chat.

“ASEAN can and should platform more cooperation and empowerment of maritime Southeast Asian countries who have experience, resources and stakes in the situation,” he added.

The Philippines will host the ASEAN summit next year, following the official handing over by Malaysia last week.  The country assumed the position a year ahead than expected amid unrest in Myanmar.

Josue Raphael J. Cortez, who teaches diplomacy at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, said that the next ASEAN summit can also be used to draft a pan-ASEAN framework in combating trafficking occurring in scam hubs.

“It may be about time for the bloc to have a consensus for a binding resolution that would center not just on eradicating the prevalence of these hubs, but also in protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of Southeast Asian citizens who get involved in the matter,” he said in a Messenger chat.

He added that the regional bloc must also synchronize deportation and reintegration policies to ensure the ease of movement for ASEAN citizens who are caught engaging in these hubs.

“ASEAN may ensure that its member-states’ constitutions enshrine provisions geared towards issues pertaining to human trafficking — a prerequisite for possible extradition based on the complementarity principle and the comity of nations,” he added.

Mr. Cortez said that the Philippines should enforce stricter verification for potential scam hub recruitment areas in the country.

“The country may add yet another layer of security checks in order to verify that the companies Filipinos moving to these trafficking hotspots are credible,” he added.

In addition, the Philippines can leverage its ties with Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union in combating human trafficking operations, Mr. Juliano said.

“We should further improve our participation and involvement with relevant global institutions such as United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT),” he added.

He said that civil society organizations are equipped to potentially advise the government for policy recommendations.