Section 20Sec./Art. 20

A new Section 17-C is hereby inserted into Republic Act No. 9208, to read as follows:

"SEC. 17-C. Immunity from Suit, Prohibited Acts and Injunctive Remedies. No action or suit shall be brought, instituted or maintained in any court or tribunal or before any other authority against any: (a) law enforcement officer; (b) social worker; or (c) person acting in compliance with a lawful order from any of the above, for lawful acts done or statements made during an authorized rescue operation, recovery or rehabilitation/intervention, or an investigation or prosecution of an anti-trafficking case: Provided, That such acts shall have been made in good faith.

"The prosecution of retaliatory suits against victims of trafficking shall be held in abeyance pending final resolution and decision of criminal complaint for trafficking.

"It shall be prohibited for the DFA, the DOLE, and the POEA officials, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges to urge complainants to abandon their criminal, civil and administrative complaints for trafficking.

"The remedies of injunction and attachment of properties of the traffickers, illegal recruiters and persons involved in trafficking may be issued motu proprio by judges."