POLICE DOCTRINE, TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 

In an attempt to improve the fight against trafficking in persons, this study was
conducted. The study assessed the Police Doctrine on Trafficking in Persons by
appraising human trafficking in Eastern Samar. It presented the assessment of the 226
police officers of the Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office and the 35 members of the
Philippine Coast Guard on the salient provisions of the Police Doctrine on Trafficking in
Persons in terms of victim identification process, interviewing victims, and initial
evidence interview. Most of the respondents were aged 30-35, male, married and
college graduates. The difference in perspectives of the two groups on the Police
Doctrine on Trafficking in Persons was also evaluated. Furthermore, this study’s central
focus was on the revision that can be proposed on the Police Doctrine on Trafficking in
Persons as to victim identification process, interviewing victims, and initial evidence
interview. Again, the difference in perspectives on the proposed changes was
assessed. A manual revision on the Police Doctrine on Trafficking in Persons was
deduced based on the findings of the study.
The police officers of Eastern Samar PPO and the personnel of Philippine Coast
Guard assessed the police doctrine on trafficking in persons, in terms of victim
identification process, as relevant with a grand mean. The respondents assessed the
police doctrine on trafficking in persons, in terms of interviewing victims, as relevant with
a grand mean of 4.12. The respondents assessed the Police Doctrine on Trafficking in
Persons, in terms of initial evidence interview as relevant with a grand mean of 4.08.
The respondents assessed the proposed changes on the Police Doctrine on
Trafficking in Persons, in terms of initial evidence interview, as highly recommended
with a grand mean of 4.25. The respondents assessed the proposed changes on the
police doctrine on trafficking in persons, in terms of interviewing victims, as highly
recommended with a grand mean of 4.26. The respondents assessed the proposed

changes on the police doctrine on trafficking in persons, in terms of initial evidence
interview, as highly recommended with a grand mean of 4.25.
Based on the findings, the following conclusions were drawn: the Police Doctrine
on Trafficking in Persons is relevant. However, there is a need to evaluate provisions
with lowest averages. Improvements in the Police Doctrine on Trafficking in Persons
can be made on areas of ensuring privacy for interviewees, limiting distractions during
the course of the interview, making victim comfortable, and considering an interpreter
and counselor during the process. It is also necessary to improve the provisions on
checking the health of the victim first; and establishing opportunity if the victim had the
opportunity to escape. There is a significant difference in the assessments of the police
officers of the Eastern Samar Police Provincial Officers and members of the Philippine
Coast Guard on the Police Doctrine on Trafficking in Persons, in terms of victim’s
identification process, interviewing victims, and initial evidence interview. The proposed
changes on the Police Doctrine on Trafficking in Persons were highly recommended in
letting the victim talk about all information that may allow the resolution of the case; in
checking the welfare of the victim in health and mental status; and in asking the routine
and modes of trafficking of the traffickers. There was a significant difference in the
assessments of the respondents on the proposed changes on the Police Doctrine on
Trafficking in Persons, in terms of victim identification process, interviewing victims, and
initial evidence interview. The proposed manual revision on the Police Doctrine on
Trafficking in Persons must focus on creating comfortable conditions in interviewing the
victims, checking the health of the victim, establishing opportunities of escape; and the
routines and modes of operations of traffickers.
Based on the findings and conclusions, the following were recommended:
Present the findings of the study to the PNP as reference for conducting re-evaluation of
the content of the Police Doctrine on Trafficking in Persons especially on ensuring
privacy, limiting distractions, making victim feel uncomfortable, and consider an
interpreter and counselor; checking the health of the victim first; and establishing
opportunity if the victim had the opportunity to escape. Create a coordinating
conference for ESPPO and Philippine Coast Guard to discuss provision of the Police
Doctrine on Trafficking in Persons, especially with their different perspectives in victim
identification process, interviewing victims, and initial evidence interview. Submit
proposal for manual revision on the Police Doctrine on Trafficking in Persons to higher
PNP authorities in terms of letting the victim talk about all information that may allow the
resolution of the case; in checking the welfare of the victim in health and mental status;
and in asking the routine and modes of trafficking of the traffickers. Changes in the
manual must be coordinated to Philippine Coast Guard for their feedbacks.