By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in coordination with various law enforcement and partner agencies, has rescued eight potential human trafficking victims and arrested three suspects in this city.
In a statement Wednesday, the Coast Guard Station (CGS)-Zamboanga said the would-be victims were rescued Tuesday afternoon from an apartment along Crispin Atilano Street, Barangay Tetuan, this city.
The would-be victims were rescued following a two-week surveillance after the barangay council of Tetuan received information about the recruitment of individuals in the area.
All rescued individuals were of legal age, while the arrested “facilitators” were also all women.
“The operation stemmed from an intelligence report and sustained surveillance regarding an alleged “backdoor” trafficking scheme, in which facilitators were reportedly providing fraudulent identification documents to individuals to purchase sea vessel tickets and facilitate their eventual departure from the country,” the CGS-Zamboanga said in its report.
The victims recruited are reportedly to travel to Saudi Arabia for work through the Philippines’ southern route.
The CGS-Zamboanga said the eight rescued individuals were referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Zamboanga Peninsula for proper assessment, evaluation, interview, and provision of appropriate assistance and protection.
Meanwhile, the three arrested facilitators were turned over to the Philippine National Police’s Women and Children Protection Center-Mindanao Field Unit for appropriate investigation and the filing of charges.
They will be charged for violations of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. (PNA)
