Malaysia-bound trafficking victims rescued in Zamboanga

Philippine authorities rescued at least nine human trafficking victims aboard a boat that was about to leave Zamboanga for Malaysia.   The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said authorities, acting on a tip, inspected the boat and found the nine persons without the proper documents, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported Tuesday.   Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente said the Visayan Forum Foundation informed them about the planned departure the undocumented Filipinos leaving for Malaysia.   Ricafrente said the Coast Guard then conducted a mandatory pre-departure inspection on the boat docked at the Zamboanga City port.   The investigation showed that the boat was headed for Tawi-Tawi and then to Sandakan in Malaysia.   The Philippine government has been exerting efforts to stop the trafficking of Filipinos abroad, as the Filipinos may be exposed to abuses and inhuman working conditions in their host countries. - VVP, GMA News