The Philippines has retained its Tier 1 classification in the US’ 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for the 11th consecutive year, with authorities citing continued efforts to strengthen law enforcement, victim protection and prosecution.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Peace and Order Nestor Sanares announced the recognition during a press briefing in Makati City on Monday.
Sanares said the milestone reflected the work of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and its member agencies in advancing prevention, victim assistance, prosecution and partnerships.
Tier 1 is the highest category under the US TIP Report, indicating that a country fully meets the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking. However, the classification does not mean trafficking has been eradicated, underscoring the need for continued enforcement and victim support.
Among the initiatives cited in the report were the mandatory minimum nationwide implementation of a Victim Identification System, an enhanced National Referral Mechanism, expanded IACAT prosecutorial task forces and the launch of the IACAT ProtectPortal.
The recognition comes as the Philippines prepares to host the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), placing regional cooperation against human trafficking and other cross-border offenses on the agenda.
Preparatory meetings brought together senior officials from ASEAN member states, dialogue partners China, Japan and South Korea, and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat.
“As host, the Philippines wants results that people can feel: stronger cooperation among our authorities, and better protection for our people against increasingly complex criminal threats,” Sanares said.
The push for closer coordination reflects the cross-border nature of trafficking networks, which can exploit gaps between national jurisdictions and enforcement systems. Cooperation among governments is therefore central to identifying victims, pursuing suspects and disrupting organized criminal operations.
While the Tier 1 designation recognizes the government’s reported compliance with minimum standards, sustained progress will depend on translating policy and institutional measures into effective investigations, prosecutions and protection for vulnerable communities.
