By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities foiled a human trafficking attempt involving 22 would-be victims through the verification and profiling of passengers of a commercial ferry in Tawi-Tawi, the police said Friday.
Major Alrashid Tulawie, chief of the Tawi-Tawi Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA), said the victims were rescued on Thursday afternoon aboard a passenger ferry docked at the port of Bongao, the province’s capital town.
Tulawie said those rescued were 10 females, seven males and five minors, who came from different parts of the country.
“This (verification and profiling) operation followed information received from a confidential informant indicating that individuals intending to travel to Sabah, Malaysia, via the backdoor route, were onboard the vessel,” Tulawie said in his report.
“When approached by maritime police, the victims appeared uneasy, failed to answer basic questions, leading the team to take them to Tawi-Tawi MARPSTA for verification,” he added.
Rosabella Sulano, head of the Bongao Municipal Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, said the would-be victims admitted during the investigation that they are planning to travel to Malaysia via “the backdoor channel” even without travel documents.
Sulano said the adult individuals revealed that they were promised jobs in Malaysia by their contacts, identified only by their aliases “Usman,” “Riza,” “Jomar,” “Naning,” and “Talib.”
She noted the victims brought their minor children with them, likely intending to settle permanently in Malaysia.
The PNP Maritime Group and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking urged everyone to stay alert about job offers abroad, especially those demanding immediate departure from the country.
The public is advised to promptly report suspicious activities. (PNA)
