GABRIELA WOMEN'S PARTY FILES RESOLUTION

GABRIELA WOMEN'S PARTY FILES RESOLUTION ON THE CASES OF TRAFFICKING SUCH AS THE MARICHU BAOANAN CASE

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FOURTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
House Resolution 649

Introduced by
Gabriela Women's Party Representatives LIZA LARGOZA-MAZA and LUZVIMINDA ILAGAN

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THROUGH THE
COMMITTEES ON WOMEN, FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS TO LOOK
INTO THE ALLEGATIONS OF TRAFFICKING USING CONSULAR PRIVILEGES AS SHOWN
IN THE CASES OF MARICHU BAOANAN AND ARLENE GADO AND RECOMMEND MEASURES
THEREOF

WHEREAS, the recognition of human rights is a valuable tenet in the
1987 Philippine Constitution which states: "the State values the
dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human
rights" (Article II, Section II);

WHEREAS, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 penalizes
trafficking of persons especially women and minors for forced labor,
sex and prostitution, institutes policies and establishes mechanisms
to prevent the proliferation of trafficking;

WHEREAS, the Philippine government is a signatory to the Convention on
the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women which guarantees the
rights and welfare of women;

WHEREAS, On June 24, 2008, Marichu Suarez Baoanan filed charges of
trafficking, forced labor, peonage and racketeering against former
United Nations Ambassador Lauro Baja, Jr., Norma Castro Baja, his
daughter Maria Elizabeth Baja Facundo and the Baja-owned Labaire
International Travel Inc;

WHEREAS, in her complaint Baoanan claims she was told by Norma Baja
that she would arrange for Baoanan to come to the US and work as a
nurse and that for Php 500,000.00 she would get a plane tickets, a US
visa, work authorization and assistance in getting employment in the
US;

WHEREAS, on December 2005, Norma Baja took her regular passport and
accompanied her and a certain "Dorie" to the Department of Foreign
Affairs to apply for a new diplomatic passport as Ambassador Baja's
personal employees;

WHEREAS, Baoanan was able to produce Php 250,000.00, issued a
diplomatic passport and upon arrival in the US on January 2006 was
told that she had to work for the Bajas as domestic helper for six
months to pay off the remaining Php 250,000.00;

WHEREAS, from January to April 2006, Baoanan claims she was made to
work 16 hours daily, seven days a week, in the Baja household and was
paid only a total of $100 for three months of work, and another $100
for taking care of Facundo's son who, she said, was allowed to hit
her;

WHEREAS, in a similar case, Arlene Gado, a Filipina domestic helper
arrived in the US in 2005 after signing a contract in the Philippines
to work for Anthony Mandap, then vice consul in the Consulate General
of the Philippines in San Francisco;

WHEREAS, shortly after arriving in the US she was transferred to the
household of Angelita Reyes, Mandap's mother in law where she served
as the Reyes' domestic helper and caretaker for two years, getting a
meager $250 to $325 a month for her services;

WHEREAS, in May 2007, Angelita Reyes, pleaded guilty to charges of
third degree criminal restraint and was ordered by the courts to pay
$78,000 in back wages to Arlene Gado;

WHEREAS, the Mariposa Alliance and GABRIELA Network USA in their
statement allege the Department of Foreign Affairs is a haven for
traffickers;

WHEREAS, according to the Mariposa Alliance and GABRIELA Network USA,
"There have been innumerable stories of Filipinas seeking sanctuary
from their brutal employers at consulates and embassies only to be
returned to the same employers; of Filipinas funneled into the sex
trade by embassy and consular personnel; of Filipinas traded as
domestic workers by embassy and consular personnel to their relatives
and friends as favors; of Filipinas coerced into paid-for marriages
and sex work to enable embassy and consular personnel to make enormous
profits";

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives through the
Committees on Women, Foreign Affairs and Overseas Filipinos to look
into the allegations of trafficking using consular privileges as shown
in the cases of Marichu Baoanan and Arlene Gado and recommend measures
thereof.

Adopted,

HON. LIZA LARGOZA-MAZA HON. LUZVIMINDA ILAGAN