Coast Guard: 86 human trafficking victims rescued in Zamboanga City

A total of 86 suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued in two separate operations in Zamboanga City, the Philippine Coast Guard said Sunday.

 

In a post on its website, the Coast Guard said its teams rescued the 86 aboard two fast-craft vessels along Petro Bay Wharf in Zamboanga City last Jan. 10.

 

The teams, acting on a tip, conducted a mandatory pre-departure inspection on the M/L Nurhira and rescued 50 passengers, including 32 males and 18 females.

 

 

A follow-up operation with the help of Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force (SBATTF) inspected the second vessel M/L Fatimaraiza, the Coast Guard said.

 

Rescued aboard the second vessel were 36 would-be victims of human trafficking, it added.

 

The 86 were brought to Department of Social Welfare and Development Processing Center for Displacement (PCDC) in Barangay Talon-Talon in Zamboanga City.

 

The Coast Guard said Investigation showed the victims each paid P2,500 to a certain facilitator named “Abs” for their trip to Sabah, Malaysia.

 

The victims were reportedly "promised 'unspecified' work with good opportunities," the Coast Guard said.

 

"Following profiling, debriefing and counseling, the 86 were released and advised to go home to their respective homes in Zamboanga City. The others opted to remain at DSWD," the Coast Guard said. — RSJ, GMA News