In a Friday statement, the PNP said that during the 34th ASEANAPOL conference earlier in the week, Russian Federation Minister of Internal Affairs Police Colonel General Vladimir Kolokoltsev and PNP Chief Police Director General Alan Purisima held bilateral talks to address issues such as terrorism, cybercrime, and drug trafficking.
The statement also said the Russian police were concerned over the Russian women who were allegedly victims of trafficking and exploitation in the Philippines.
Last April, at least 19 women, including three Russian nationals, were rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation’s anti-human trafficking division and the Department of Social Welfare and Development following a raid on a suspected sex den in Pasay City.
Aside from the three Russians, among those rescued were 13 Filipinas and three Ukrainians.
Authorities had said that the foreigners rescued had no permits nor proper visas to work in the Philippines.
“The creation of MOU will promote awareness on the arising peace and order issues and concerns in both countries,” the PNP statement said.
According to data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, there were 1,376 reported victims of human trafficking in the Philippines in 2012, and 645 more victims in the first semester of 2013.
However, an earlier DSWD report hinted that the actual number of victims in the Philippines is likely much higher as many human trafficking incidents remain unreported. — Amanda Fernandez/DVM, GMA News
