Published Paper Details:

Human trafficking is the most pernicious form of abuse and a multi-billion dollar criminal industry in modern times. This phenomenological study aims to document the lived experiences of law enforcers in Central Visayas who are at the frontline in the fight against modern day slavery. The researcher employed in-depth interview and focus group discussion to obtain the necessary data from 17 investigators from various law enforcement agencies, units and stations. In terms of experiences of law enforcers, the themes that emerged were encountering various forms of human trafficking, confronted with various modi operandi to lure victims, alliance with various government agencies, dealing with uncooperative victim and lack of material resources and support. They have also shared the challenges they encountered such as tedious and harried preparation for case filing, interventions, threat, harassment and pressures and lack of material resources and support. Nonetheless, law enforcement officers remained stable amidst pressure and strictly adhered with the rule of law. In terms of insights shared by the participants, the themes were awareness and advocacy is the key to mitigation, public should be astute and discerning in job recruitment, victims are vulnerable because of ignorance and poverty, and law enforcers need to be equipped to handle trafficking cases. The study implies that human trafficking is a multi-faceted problem that needs cooperation among various stakeholders in the society.