By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Swift action by authorities foiled a human trafficking attempt, resulting in the rescue of five women at the Sanga-Sanga Airport in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, on Friday afternoon.
Lt. Col. Jeseryl Dela Cruz, 1st Special Operations Unit-Maritime Group (1SOU-MG) chief, said the victims were rescued around 12:30 p.m. His team acted on a report received around 8:50 a.m. regarding a group of women who traveled by plane from Manila to Cotabato, with a connecting flight to Tawi-Tawi.
“The joint team proceeded to Sanga-Sanga Airport and conducted verification and profiling of the suspected victims,” Dela Cruz said. “Their actions and movements raised suspicions that they may be victims of human trafficking.”
Investigation by the Local Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) revealed the women were illegally recruited and promised high wages in Thailand via a “backdoor route” through Tawi-Tawi.
The five rescued women were brought to the 1SOU-MG headquarters for documentation and later turned over to the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD)-Bongao for appropriate assistance and care.
Dela Cruz said the successful operation, which included support from other police and military units, demonstrated the strong collaboration of the PNP Maritime Group and partner agencies in their ongoing campaign against human trafficking. (PNA)
