NBI arrests 7 alleged human traffickers in QC

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives arrested seven alleged human traffickers in Quezon City, NBI Director  Jaime Santiago said Monday.

Santiago explained that the  NBI-Cybercrime Division arrested the six Filipino and one Chinese suspect  during a surveillance and entrapment operation at a condominium along Ignacia Avenue.

This is for violation of Section 9 (Qualified Trafficking in Person) of R.A. 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012) in relation to Section 6 of R.A. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

Meanwhile, NBI Cybercrime Division  Chief Atty. Jeremy Lotoc believed that a Chinese organized crime group (OCG) was collaborating with a Russian OCG in trafficking victims.

“Ang methodology po kasi nila, halimbawa meron silang group ng mga human  trafficked persons, dadalhin sa Pinas. After two to three weeks,  ililipat naman nila ‘yung grupo na ‘yan. Either Thailand, Singapore,  Dubai, or China. So may ibang grupo na naman na papalit. So parang  umiikot po, para hindi magkaroon ng familiarity,” he said.

(Their methodology, for example, would have a group of human trafficked persons brought to the Philippines. After two to three  weeks, they will be moved to either Thailand, Singapore, Dubai, or China.  They will be replaced by another group. They’re being moved around to  prevent familiarity.)

Lotoc also believed that there were bases in Dubai and the Philippines that were operated by the Chinese.

The NBI also rescued seven Filipino minors, whose ages ranged from 13 to 17 years old, three Russian nationals in their 30s, and one  Kazakhstan national.

“‘Yung seven Filipina minors ay  binebenta nila for sexual favors, P5,000. Pero itong Russian at saka  Kazakhstan, binebenta nila for P45,000. They are selling them through  internet,” Santiago said in a press conference.

(The seven FIlipina minors are being sold for sexual favors for P5,000. But the  Russian and the Kazakh were being sold for P45,000. They are selling them through the internet.)

Santiago said the victims were under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

According to Lotoc, they were victims of “unethical recruitment.”

“Pinangakuan sila ng trabaho. At the same time, pagdating dito, in-exploit ‘yung kanilang person,” Lotoc said.

(They were promised work. When they arrived here, they were exploited.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News