Remarks by Ambassador Kristie Kenney at Equipment Donation Ceremony National Bureau of Investigation, Manila

June 18, 2009

Thank you very much.  Good afternoon to everyone, Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.

I’d like to thank the NBI Director and staff for a wonderful welcome here today.  To an event that’s very important to all of us.  I also want to thank the NBI chorale for singing our national anthems in an extraordinary way, the way that brings really great pride to both of our countries. 

Today we’re here to talk about an issue that is not as happy or as pleasant as it might be and that’s trafficking in persons.  This has become one of the most lucrative crimes in the world.  It’s a crime that sells millions and millions of citizens of every one of our nations into slavery every single day.  It is modern slavery.  It affects the most vulnerable parts of our citizenry, mostly women and children.  It is a crime that knows no borders, and, as such, is a crime that we have gone together to fight.

We’ve all been working here in this country, governments, government agencies, private citizens, companies throughout the country, to fight this.  We use three tools, the three “P”s.  Prevention, teaching people there is a problem.  And I want to thank our friends in the media in particular for doing so because the more people we can educate to this problem, the fewer victims we will have.  The second area that we’ve worked on, and I want to commend the NGOs in particular on this is “protection;” protecting those who suffer, giving them a chance to restore their dignity, to return to life.  Finally, the most important one for today’s effort, that’s “prosecution.”  Going after those responsible for selling their fellow citizens into slavery and making sure they are brought to justice and convicted.

I’d like to commend the NBI, to congratulate your successes in recent days and it is our fond hope that your great efforts will be enhanced and furthered with the equipment we’re donating today.  Because, in fact, it isn’t just good enough to prevent and to protect, we really have to go after those who are responsible regardless of where they are in what country.  This is a global network of people who sell other citizens, vulnerable human beings into slavery.  We must go after them.  We must prosecute them and convict them.  There is really no other answer.

Yesterday, Secretary Clinton announced a fourth “P” to add to prevention, protection, and prosecution --“partnership.”  And that’s exactly what we do here in the Philippines.  We have extraordinary partners in this effort across the Philippines.  I’ve seen port executives, shipping companies, port authorities -- I’ve seen NGO’s, everyday citizens, even rock musicians putting on concerts to help teach people about this crime.  This is an incredible partnership we have here.

It’s really the only way forward [partnership] because those who are making millions of dollars from selling people into slavery are strong and they are getting stronger every day.  We have no choice than to fight this together.

I want to commend, in particular the law enforcement officials in the Philippines, Director Mantaring and the NBI are tireless.  This is dangerous work.  These are tough criminals and your efforts to go after them, to find them, to arrest them, to prosecute them, and to get them convicted are incredible.  And I’d like to offer a hand to all of the NBI agents who work so hard in this [applause.]

I will reassure you, you are not alone.  You have, not only in the United States, but throughout the world, a network of dedicated law enforcement authorities who will stand by your side, share information, help go after these people, and, in the end, hopefully, create a much safer world for all our citizens.

It’s a great pleasure to be here today to formally donate this equipment, but also to commend you all for the incredible work you do every day.  Thank you from the United States of America and from me.  Maraming salamat po!

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