Singaporean, 13 Pinoys nabbed for human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines - A Singaporean and 13 Filipinos were arrested in a raid on an alleged human trafficking den in Las Piñas last Friday.

Thirty-six women, reportedly promised jobs as domestic helpers, were rescued from the den at the De Castro Building in Villa Eusebia, Barangay E. Aldana, according to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Director Benjamin Magalong.

He said he has directed investigators to check the immigration status of Singaporean Yvone Phua.

CIDG spokesperson Chief Inspector Elizabeth Jasmin said the suspects were allegedly working with the PEM Maid Employment Agency but verification with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) indicated there was no employment agency with the name was registered and authorized to hire and send workers to other countries.

She said the raid stemmed from the complaints of five alleged victims, who claimed they were “made to work in the guise of training beyond the prescribed number of hours. The firm claimed to be offering trainings on baby sitting, caregiver, and domestic help and could deploy worker abroad but the agency has no POEA license.”