The prelate of Cebu archdiocese warned the faithful on the weekend against the ongoing threat of human trafficking after authorities rescued more than a dozen young women from suspected forced labor in Cebu on Friday.

“We are reminding people to be on extra guard,” Archbishop Jose Palma said on Saturday as he expressed his support for the government’s current efforts to curb the trafficking in persons.

President Benigno Aquino has declared human trafficking a top concern of the Philippine government, which was upgraded to Tier 2 status on the United States’ 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report, which ranks countries based on their compliance with minimum standards outlined in the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Countries with Tier 1 status are those whose governments fully comply with the minimum standards; those in Tier 2 are countries that do not fully comply with the minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to do so.

Archbishop Palma said human trafficking is “against the law and against the teachings of the Church.”

“On our front, we will be there to support all the efforts against human trafficking.”

On Friday, 15 girls were rescued from a suspected trafficking operation in the city of Cebu. The girls, aged between 14 and 17, were reportedly offered employment as housemaids, waitresses and caretakers in Manila.

“I hope that this will not happen and we will do our best that this thing will be avoided [in the future],” said Archbishop Palma.

Groups working against human trafficking have identified the province of Cebu as a destination, source and transit area where women and children victims are brought to be transported to various parts of the country.

Archbishop Palma said the Catholic Church promotes the human dignity of persons exploited through trafficking and slavery, and supports efforts to rescue victims and provide economic, educational, and formative services.