On 23 June 2022, Republic Act (RA) No. 11862 or the “Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022” was approved and signed by then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, which is the latest amendment of RA 9208 or the “Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003”.

On 30 July 2022, RA 11930 or the “Anti-Online and Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act”, which provides special protections to children from all forms of sexual violence, abuse, and exploitation especially those committed with the use of information and communications technology (ICT), lapsed into law.

The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for both RA No. 11862 and RA No. 11930 were drafted and approved this 2023 under the administration of Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as Chairperson of IACAT, and Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty as Undersecretary-in-charge of IACAT.

Both IRRs were approved after several Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings with all IACAT member agencies and consultations with different stakeholders. The laws are now published and effective and may be accessed in the links below.  

With the passage of the above-mentioned laws and IRRs, the IACAT would like to warn the human traffickers and those who will attempt to commit human trafficking that the IACAT will do its best to make sure that these crimes will not go unpunished.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11862:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2022/06jun/20220604-RA-11862-RRD.pdf

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11930
https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/republic_acts/ra%2011930.pdf

RA NO. 11862 IRR
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2023/03mar/20230318-RA-9208-FRM.pdf

The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA No. 11930 and other related laws may be accessed in the IACAT official website in this link:
https://iacat.gov.ph/?page_id=23