Two men who authorities said could be victims of human trafficking were rescued at a port in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maritime Group, the two were rescued during profiling and verification of passengers who arrived from Zamboanga City.

PNP-Maritime Group said an informant tipped authorities that several passengers were allegedly bound for Sabah, Malaysia via an illegal “backdoor” route.

During verification of passengers, the two were observed to be exhibiting suspicious behavior and unable to respond properly to basic questions. They were then brought to the Tawi-Tawi Maritime Police Station for further verification.

The two were identified later as “Mil,” 48, and “Mir,” 18, both residents of Sumine, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.

Authorities found that the two had no travel documents and had planned to enter Semporna, Sabah through an illegal backdoor channel.

They claimed that a certain “Nasser,” their alleged recruiter, was supposed to pick them up in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

PNP-Maritime Group said the two were allegedly advised by their recruiter to travel through the backdoor route via Tawi-Tawi to reach Sabah since they lacked the documents required.

After investigation, the two were turned over to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Services Development Office (MSSDO)-Bongao for counseling and stress debriefing.

“Ang tagumpay ng operasyon ay bunga ng matibay na koordinasyon ng mga lokal at pambansang ahensyang patuloy na nakikipaglaban sa human trafficking upang maprotektahan ang mga mamamayan laban sa pang-aabuso at pagsasamantala,” PNP-Maritime Group said.