7 held for human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines — Seven suspected members of a human trafficking ring said to be organized by Chinese and Russian crime groups were arrested in Quezon City and Parañaque, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported on Monday.

Complaints for violation of Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in relation to RA 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Law, were filed against the suspects, NBI chief Jaime Santiago said.

Five of the suspects were apprehended in an entrapment operation in a condominium building along Mother Ignacia street in Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City.

They were Moises Bognot, Jermaine Villanueva, Glenn Paolo Solijon, Darwin Tagalog and Lance Clifford Ungriano.

Eleven alleged victims of sex trafficking – seven Filipina girls aged 13 to 17 as well as three Russian women and a Kazakh woman – were rescued during the operation.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Nighjer Teriote and Chinese national Zhang Wenyou in Parañaque, according to the NBI.