ZAMBOANGA CITY: Operatives of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) have rescued six victims of Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP) in Tawi-Tawi province, a top military official said Monday.
Rear Adm. Donn Anthony Miraflor, NFWM commander, said the victims were rescued around 7:45 a.m. Sunday aboard a commercial ferry that just docked at the port of Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi.
Miraflor said those rescued consisted of three males and three females, the youngest of whom is 18 and the oldest is 40 years old.
Three of the males and a female are from Tungawan town, Zamboanga Sibugay province while the two remaining females are from Parang town in Maguindanao province, and Isabela City, Basilan province.
“The TIPs were promptly endorsed to Tawi-Tawi Maritime Police Station for proper documentation, shelter, and protection services,” Miraflor said.
He said the victims claimed that they were recruited to work in Malaysia by a certain Rose who instructed them to board a commercial ferry that will take them to the municipality of Sitangkai in Tawi-Tawi via the Bongao port.
From Sitangkai, Rose told them she will arrange for their travel to Sabah, Malaysia via motorboat at any opportune time.
The Bongao Municipal Inter-Agency Against Trafficking, in coordination with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MSWDO-BARMM), administered the necessary aid, counseling, and stress debriefing to the victims
Source: Philippines News Agency
