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In solidarity with Veloso, supporters also brought a large heart-shaped open letter to boost her morale while they campaign for her freedom.
These scam hubs are essentially forced labor camps where victims, mostly from Southeast Asian countries, are coerced into working long hours under brutal conditions, including physical abuse and debt bondage.
"Mary Jane Veloso is not a criminal but a victim of human trafficking. Her homecoming should not be treated as a prisoner transfer but as the return of a Filipino who has suffered enough." -- former Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate
Mary Jane Veloso’s accounts reveal the realities of Filipino migrant workers who are victimized by human traffickers. Mary Jane’s family and supporters call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant her clemency, a conditional release of a person deprived of liberty (PDL), mitigating the consequences of criminal liability.
The Philippines remains a global hotspot for online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), where the increase in cases was recorded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the high internet usage and economic instability.
"With this ruling, we are hopeful that the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth will come out and that not only will it decisively and ultimately impel Indonesia to make her reprieve permanent or free her by any legal or political means, that all the perpetrators of the misery she went through will be made to pay, but also that this precedent will contribute to providing succor to many others who will be victims of circumstance and injustice which can all be traced from our economic and social ills."
"As a human trafficking victim, these proceedings should help her to assert her rights, including the right to testify against her recruiters.”
“I am yearning for my mother. I hope to be with her soon. Please continue supporting her.”
“Our only wish is for the case against her recruiters in Baloc trial court to proceed faster, and for her to go home this 2016.”
“Migrante continues to call for vigilance and sustained support for Mary Jane, in light of the slow course of justice.”
“We had expected that they would defend themselves and plead that they are not guilty. Pero, hindi ba sila nakokonsensya?”
“What is important now is that the Indonesia’s High Prosecutor himself said the filing of the petition for a second judicial review may or may not affect the carrying out of the death penalty. It was not immediately dismissed.”
They were promised teaching jobs in the US and were made to pay thousands of dollars; some ended in the US without jobs and had to beg for food; most of them are here and are heavily indebted.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
“With the recent developments, Filipinos in Sabah have become more vulnerable to crackdowns and abuses. This, without doubt, is the direct result of the Aquino government’s defeatist and passive stance on the Sabah issue.” – Migrante Partylist
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
On March 17, members and supporters of the Stop the Traffic network will gather at Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City to form a human chain to “symbolize the people’s resolve to end the problem.”
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
"I would like to start all over again. I want to go back to school and become a nurse." – one of the victims
By INA ALLECO SILVERIO
"The growing poverty, unemployment and landless in our country exponentially increase the vulnerability of women and children to sex trafficking." – Rep. Luz Ilagan, Gabriela Women's Party
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO Bulatlat.com MANILA - Filipino-Americans led by two alliances based in the United States of America belied the Aquino administration's claims that human trafficking has ceased to be a problem in the Philippines. They held a rally against...
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“We are continuously receiving complaints from OFWs whose relatives were victimized by an extortion gang in the NAIA. These extortionists demand to be shown the AOS, but afterwards went on to ask for money.” – Migrante
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