NBI nabs 4 for alleged human trafficking; 102 rescued

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday announced the arrest of four persons for alleged human trafficking and the rescue of over 100 individuals from a club in Makati City.

According to the bureau, joint operatives arrested the operators of the club as well as one individual who received the payment for the victims during an entrapment and rescue operation on March 7.

The operation was conducted by the NBI-Organized and Transnational Crimes Division (OTCD) with the Makati Social Welfare Development (MWSD), the NBI-Human Trafficking Division, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and a non-governmental organization.

The following day, the NBI said MWSD interviewed and assessed 102 customer care assistants (CCAs) of the club, who were later turned over to the social workers of their local government units.

“Six CCAs voluntarily gave their sworn statements to the NBI, which confirmed the existence of sexual offers and activities given to [the club's] customers for a fee,” the NBI said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, the NBI said the subjects were presented for inquest proceedings before Makati prosecutors for violation of Section 4(a) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012. 

They were turned over to the NBI Detention Facility at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. — BM, GMA Integrated News