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16 human trafficking victims rescued in Tawi-Tawi

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

February 22, 2023, 7:26 pm

<p><strong>HUMAN TRAFFICKING.</strong> Authorities rescue 16 victims of human trafficking, including three minors, in Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi province, on Tuesday (Feb. 21, 2023). The victims were en route to Malaysia, where they were supposedly promised jobs by a certain Jason.<em> (Photo courtesy of APC-WM)</em></p>

HUMAN TRAFFICKING. Authorities rescue 16 victims of human trafficking, including three minors, in Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi province, on Tuesday (Feb. 21, 2023). The victims were en route to Malaysia, where they were supposedly promised jobs by a certain Jason. (Photo courtesy of APC-WM)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have rescued 16 human trafficking victims, including three minors, in Tawi-Tawi province, a top police official said Wednesday.

Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said the victims were rescued around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday aboard a commercial ferry moored at the port of Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi.”

Before the rescue, Verceles said the local inter-agency committee against trafficking received a tip that a group of individuals are traveling from this city to Malaysia via Tawi-Tawi.

Thirteen of the victims, including three minors, are from Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay province, while the remaining three came from Barangay Curuan here.

Police investigation showed that the adult victims were promised jobs upon their arrival in Malaysia by a certain Jayson, who recruited them, Verceles said.

Jayson was not with the group when they traveled as he is currently in Malaysia.

The victims were turned over to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for assistance in returning to their respective homes.

On Feb. 18, eight human trafficking victims were also rescued by authorities at the port of Bongao, while they were en route to Malaysia. (PNA)

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