The Department of Justice (DOJ) has expressed optimism that the country will be cleared from the Tier 2 Watch List category after securing 21 convictions involving human trafficking cases since President Aquino’s election.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima bared the 21 convictions is better off compared to the number of convictions during the previous administration managed to get from 2003.

“We are elated. We have really intensified anti-trafficking efforts including area of conviction,” de Lima said.

She said the government is still expecting more convictions in the coming months as several cases are up for resolution in various courts.

The Philippines was categorized under the Tier 2 Watch List from 2009-2010 which meant that unless significant efforts were made to fight human trafficking, it could fall under the Tier 3 List.

Tier 3 countries are at risk of losing US non-humanitarian assistance based on the US Trafficking Victims’ Protection Act of 2000. Hector Lawas