Coast Guard: 13 human trafficking victims rescued in Basilan; perpetrator arrested

The Philippine Coast Guard and the Regional Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (RIACAT) have rescued 13 alleged human trafficking victims in Maluso, Basilan on Wednesday.

In a statement on Friday, Coast Guard said an initial investigation showed that the female victims, aged 21 to 40 years old, were residents of Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Capiz, Zamboanga del Norte, and Maguindanao.

The operation was conducted on a pre-arranged watercraft bound for Malaysia, where the victims will supposedly be forced to work through illegal means.

According to the Coast Guard, a suspected perpetrator was arrested.

The victims received humanitarian assistance and were escorted to the Maluso Municipal Police Station for proper documentation.

They were ferried to the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office – IX to undergo swab test and mandatory quarantine before their return to their respective families, the Coast Guard said. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News