Coast Guard rescues 3 women from human trafficking in Zamboanga

Government operatives this week rescued in Zamboanga City three Filipina would-be victims of human trafficking bound for Sabah.

 

The Philippine Coast Guard said it, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group rescued the three from the M/V Mary Joy on Monday.

 

In a press statement Thursday, the Coast Guard identified the three women as Rodecar Sanchez, 35, from Cebu City, and Louella Marie Zapata, 21, and Jenna Salas Marin, 23, both from San Fernando, Pampanga.

 

According to the Coast Guard, the three were about to be sent to Sabah via Sulu.

 

However, a joint team of Coast Guard Station Zamboanga, Field Station Southwestern Mindanao Operatives, CIDG Group-9, DSWD, Philippines Charter of Transnational Crime and Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. intercepted them.

 

The operatives arrested the suspected traffickers identified as Benhar Mukin and Estrella Hasan, both from Zamboanga City.

 

According to the three victims, one Shon Joon Sin recruited them in Pampanga and promised them decent jobs with good salarie in Sabah.

 

Hasan and Mukin were to accompany the three to Sabah via Jolo aboard M/V Mary Joy.

 

The three were brought to the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. while the two suspects were detained at the CIDG Group-9 office.

 

The suspects will undergo preliminary investigation for violating the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, the Coast Guard said. — JDS, GMA News