Pangasinan: Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have arrested five suspected human traffickers and rescued 10 victims, including nine minors, in Barangay Baquioen, Sual, Pangasinan on May 1. The NBI presented the suspects to members of the media on Tuesday. The suspects include two Chinese nationals, Zhonggang Qui and Wenwed Qui, and three Filipinos, Angielyn Ramirez, Marichelle Ambrosio, and Jay Amor.

According to Philippines News Agency, the arrests were made by operatives of the NBI Cybercrime Division and Special Task Force following an intelligence report. The report indicated that a Chinese national named Hou Shilian was employing underage workers and harboring undocumented foreign nationals in his compound. The rescued victims disclosed that they had been recruited from Northern Samar and were subjected to forced labor and debt bondage.

The victims reported being threatened with firearms and assigned to demanding tasks, including hauling fish feed and tending to offshore cages in Lingayen Gulf. Investigations revealed that two of the rescued minors are pregnant by their live-in partners, who are 23 and 22 years old, potentially leading to statutory rape charges.

NBI agents discovered that the fish pen operations were primarily owned and controlled by Chinese nationals, posing environmental and public utility risks. The NBI stated that the suspects have undergone inquest proceedings for qualified trafficking under Republic Act No. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003), as amended by R.A. No. 10364 and R.A. No. 11862.

Additionally, the suspects are facing charges for violating R.A. No. 9231 (An Act Providing for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor), R.A. No. 8550 (The Fisheries Code of the Philippines), and R.A. No. 12022 for Economic Sabotage.