2 pregnant minors, others rescued from trafficking in Pangasinan — NBI

Two pregnant minors and several others were rescued from human trafficking in Sual, Pangasinan, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday.

The two were among the nine minors and one adult rescued by the NBI-Cybercrime Division and NBI-Special Task Force, along with ALDO agents and local social welfare representatives, from a compound in Barangay Baquioen on May 1.

“It was discovered that two of the rescued minor victims are pregnant by their live-in partners, who are 23 and 22 years old, respectively. This raises grounds for prosecution under statutory rape laws,” the NBI said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the victims said several of them were recruited from Northern Samar.

They said they were subjected to forced labor, including hauling fish feed and tending offshore cages in the Lingayen Gulf, as well as debt bondage, and threats involving the use of firearms.

“The agents found that the fish pen operations were primarily owned and controlled by Chinese nationals. Furthermore, the unregulated fish pens pose significant risks to the environment and public utilities,” the NBI said.

The operation led to the arrest of two Chinese nationals and three Filipinos.

According to the NBI, the employees of the compound admitted that they were acting under the instructions of the Chinese nationals.

The NBI said the arrested individuals have been charged with qualified trafficking under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended.

They are also facing charges for violating An Act Providing For The Elimination Of The Worst Forms Of Child Labor, The Fisheries Code of the Philippines, and Economic Sabotage. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News