Sina-on,

Glennie Marie M. February 14, 2017

2006-00218 SW 225 Assignment Prof. Mary Lou Alcid

When I was working as Social Welfare Officer IV for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
in DSWD NCR, aside from my main task which was to oversee the day-to-day activities related to
Pantawid particularly in Valenzuela City and in Caloocan South, I also had to serve in the anti-
trafficking related rescue operations with the NBI. These rescue operations are based on the
mandate of the DSWD as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). DSWD
NCR issued a special order that requires all Registered Social Workers in the field office, regardless
of office/bureau/program/unit assignment, must assist the NBI during rescue operations. The
RSWs were divided into seven (7) groups Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday group. The rationale for this arrangement is that NBI may call for DSWDs
Social Workers anytime since NBI also unpredictably gets to confirm their operations.

I was assigned to the Monday group. My first rescue operation with the NBI Anti
Organized and Transnational Crime Division (AOTCD) happened last May 23 24, 2016. I went to
the NBI main office on May 23 at 8:00 p.m. but the briefing session started at 10:00 p.m. We were
only two Registered Social Workers at that time. We were also the only females in the operation.
During the briefing session, it was mentioned that we were going to a spa in Las Pinas City and that
an asset from the NBI was already there as entrapment. We arrived at the spa at 1:00 in the
morning. We actually waited for an hour for the assets go signal to enter the spa. During
operation, the other RSW who was with me and I were able to find nine (9) females, two (2) gays,
and a seven-year old girl who is the daughter of one of the nine women.

While we were inside the hired jeepney on the way to NBI main office, the clients asked me
if they would be imprisoned. Some of them were hiding their faces, some seemed to be in shock,
some seemed to be in deep thinking. I told them that I am a Social Worker and that we brought
them out of the spa because we were rescuing them from exploitation (committed by the spa
owner). I told them that their spa was under the surveillance of the NBI for quite some time and
that it was proven that their spa was offering an extra service. The clients asked me questions
such as Paano na yan, naiwan namin mga gamit namin sa loob?; Paano na yan wala kaming
dalang pera.; Paano na yan lagot kami sa amo namin.; Paano na yan, may babalikan pa ba
kaming trabaho? Nananahimik kami doon, nagtratrabaho, tapos huhulihin ninyo kami.. I told them
that we were not capturing them because they are not the perpetrators, but instead, they are
actually the victims thats why we were rescuing them. I realized and at the same time, pitied
them because they did not see themselves as victims but as criminals when we got them out of the
spa. For them not to feel this way, I tried hard in explaining that we were there to serve them and
keep them away from harm and not the other way around.


When we arrived at the AOTCD office, the male NBI staff were all looking at my clients. I felt
uncomfortable that all these men were looking intensely at the girls and gays who were wearing
skimpy clothes at that time. I soon requested for a private room wherein my clients and I could talk,
away from the eyes of these men. Even though that the NBI staff were not catcalling the girls, there
was a voice inside me that knows that these men would eventually catcall (or maybe worse) the
girls. I do not know if this is valid but I felt that I had to protect my clients from the men. I know that
I should stick to the idea that I am in partnership with the NBI in this operation, but I thought that
perhaps these men were thinking about the stigma attached to girls who work in this type of
industry women and gays who are vulnerable and impoverished which was the main reason why
they chose to remain in such job. I didnt like this idea lingering on these men and I really wanted to
give my clients privacy and peace (even temporarily) at that time, so I really demanded for a private
room from their boss. A room with double beds, which is AOTCDs storage and siesta room, was
provided to us. I requested the men who were sleeping there to get out of the room for a while to
give way for my clients. I was thankful that the NBI staff granted my every request. They told me
that it was also their first time to work with a Social Worker during an operation (since there is
another NBI unit that works with IACAT; its DSWDs first time, too, to work with NBI-AOTCD on
rescue ops). Good thing, the NBI-AOTCD boss believes in the power of DSWD social worker, I
thought. However, since NBI-AOTCD depended on me (because with me were the DSWD-IACAT
protocols), I felt challenged because it meant I needed to come up with a very appropriate
assessment so that we would all know what to do with the case.

I let the girls rest for a while but I started interviewing them one by one at 3:00 in the
morning because we had to release an affidavit before 12nn. The following responses are common
to all eleven clients:

o They all earn PhP 100 per client. They can have maximum of three per night.
o They receive around PhP 1500 every 15th and 30th of the month
o Their shift is from 9pm until 6am
o They are all stay-in at the spa
o They offer massage to both men and women.
o They all have TESDA NC II certificates as Massage Therapist. They received it in
2015.
o They have an on-going training being given by DOH. They shall receive their
certificates on June 5. Their DOH training is being conducted at the spa. They have 2
sessions per week.
o Four testified that the spa owner went to their province and hired them as
waitresses when they were only 17 years old, and when they arrived in Manila, they
were instructed to undergo the training on massage.
o They all have undergone the training on prostate massage.

All of them expressed that they wouldnt be able to finish their DOH training and wouldnt
receive their training certificates the moment they leave the spa.


While I was interviewing each one, I asked them about how they were hired at the spa, how
they were able to come to Manila, their educational background, skills acquired before they started
working at the spa and even their skills acquired while they were working at the spa. I asked for
these because I was trying to help them identify their strengths and support system. I was aiming
that they would begin to realize that they do not need the spa and that they do not need to go back
there, instead, they could actually be admitted in a type of job that is not taking advantage of them
nor violating their rights. I understand that they were really confused and afraid when they were
there at the NBI, so I focused my interview on identifying their strengths and exploring who could
be of help to them while excluding the spa owner (their boss who have been their financial
supporter for years) and loyal customers-turned-friends.

While the interview, I also helped them in identifying the people (support system) who
could help them go home (back to their provinces, for the majority). I offered the services of DSWD
Haven for Women as temporary shelter and DSWDs Balik Probinsya Assistance but they refused to
avail these, instead, they did their best in remembering who can be tapped while they dont have
new jobs yet (since they recently lost their job at the spa all because of the rescue ops). Since they
are all adults, as a Social Worker, I had to respect their decision that was not to seek refuge from
DSWDs temporary shelters. I was actually afraid that these women would only go back to the spa
or would only seek help from their customers whom they have formed relationships with, but, even
I had these thoughts in mind, I know I had to respect their decision. So that morning, even I was
extremely reluctant, I talked to the NBI officer and requested him to accompany and let my clients
retrieve their things from the spa and let them leave after they attest in the court (inquest). The
only assurance that I had that time was the confirmation from the NBI that the spa would be
permanently closed and that there would be a filed case against the spa owner.


Remembering all my actions during the rescue operation, today, I think that I was able to
apply all the SW principles. Even I was only able to work with them overnight, and even it was my
first time to work hands-on with survivors of human trafficking, I believe that I worked hard in
taking out all the prejudices that I had on prostituted women and gays. I worked hard in
understanding why they chose this type of work as well as the external factors that pressured them
to be and remain in such situation. I accepted their strengths and weaknesses that they shared to
me during the interview. Letting them decide on where and with whom they would be staying after
the inquest was the manifestation of my acceptance of their limitations and the realities that they
face, of their self-determination, and of their participation in this problem-solving. Empowerment
and strengths-based perspectives have also guided my actions during my assessment. Even I was
given only a very short time to talk to them, I hope I was able to pinpoint to them their strengths as
well as the opportunities that surround them.