21 December 2010, Tel Aviv, State of Israel – the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv conducted an echo seminar on human trafficking to provide its personnel with updated information about the laws that protect persons against human trafficking.  The seminar was an opportunity to introduce new measures and procedures on how to handle and deal human trafficking cases which Embassy personnel may encounter in the course of their duties at Post.  The Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Office also attended the said seminar.

Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia noted the importance of “echoing” the seminar to all embassy personnel, including that of POLO and OWWA.  “The introduction of the new measures and equipping the Embassy’s personnael with adequate knowledge is a demonstration of the Philippine government’s progress to efficiently combat human trafficking”, the Ambassador said.  She underscored that the Department of Foreign Affairs works hand in hand with the Department of Justice and other stakeholders to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Greg Marie-Concha-Mariño facilitated the seminar at the Embassy.  She previously attended the Regional Training on the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (TIP), Victims and Prosecution of Offenders which was held in Amman, Jordan from 11-13 December 2010. The participants, coming from the different Foreign Service Posts in the Middle East, were trained to handle TIP victims/cases, provide them with adequate and necessary assistance and guide them in the preparation of legal documents to be used in prosecuting offenders, both at the host country and in the Philippines.