PH Navy rescues 123 human trafficking victims in Sulu

The Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) rescued 123 human trafficking victims Tubalubac Island, Brgy. Aluh Bunah, Pangutaran, Sulu in an operation held last Tuesday.

According to a statement released by the Philippine Navy, the victims were subjected to forced labor and were forced to use illegal drugs to endure their work conditions.

The Navy was able to recover the following war materials during the operation:

• Nine suspected improvised non-electric blasting caps
• Four meters time fuse
• One M1 Garand Rifle bearing serial no (2885345) US Rifle Springfield
• One M14 Rifle bearing serial (1207602) Winchester Trademark Armory
• One M16A1 Rifle bearing serial no (RP018181) Elisco;

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• live ammunition of Cal.30
• live ammunition 7.62mm
• live ammunition of 5.56mm
• live ammunition of cal. 45
• steel magazine of M14
• clips of M1 Garand
• steel magazine for Cal 45; and
• More or less 10 grams of suspected shabu inside the occupied house of a certain "Jammang" recovered by PDEA-Sulu

The rescued victims, who were mostly from Cebu or Bohol, have been turned over to the custody of the Ministry of Social Services and Development-BARMM for documentation and support, while all confiscated items were turned over to the CIDG Sulu-PFU for proper documentation. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News