Anti-trafficking groups rescue 22 Malaysia-bound persons in Tawi-Tawi
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Twenty-two individuals, including two minors, who were bound for Sabah, Malaysia suspected to be human trafficking victims as they no travel documents were rescued in two separate police operations in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi since the start of the month.
Philippine Navy Lt. Chester Ross Cabaltera, spokesperson of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), said authorities rescued 17 persons that included the two minors aboard M/V Everqueen of Asia docked at the port of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on Aug. 2 while five others were rescued on Aug. 6 inside MV Trisha Kerstin 2.
This brought to 140 the number of persons taken into custody in Tawi-Tawi since January this year as possible human trafficking victims.
“Based on their narratives, the rescued individuals aboard the MV Trisha Kerstin 2 on Tuesday were on their way to Kiningaw, Sabah. But they could not show the proper documents, which makes them vulnerable to human trafficking,” Cabaltera said.
The 17 individuals aboard the MV Evergreen rescued on Aug. 2 — six females, nine males and two male minors — were bound for Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia and were promised jobs once they reached there through the southern backdoor.
Authorities had been on alert against individuals traveling without necessary papers through the Bongao port in Tawi-Tawi, known to be a backdoor to neighboring Sabah.
Vigilance matters
He said port and boat personnel in Tawi-Tawi were already briefed on how to detect would-be victims of human trafficking, especially if passengers could not produce the necessary documents for travel, such as a Philippine passport.
Once detected, authorities are immediately informed and rescued individuals are then brought to the maritime police station for profiling and documentation.
After an interview with the maritime police, the rescued individuals were turned over to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development Office in Bongao for stress debriefing and counseling.
Cabaltera lauded the crew members of the two commercial vessels for their vigilance.
Rear Admiral Francisco Tagamolila, NFWM commander, said the success of the operation was largely due to the cooperation of different government agencies, including the Local Council Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children and the Municipal Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
