45 human trafficking victims rescued in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Combined police forces led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) rescued at least 45 human trafficking victims Thursday morning in a private wharf in this city, an official said. 

Assistant city prosecutor Darlene Pajarito, chairman of the Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force, said the victims, mostly male adults, were rescued about 7 a.m. in a private wharf located in Sitio Baliwasan Seaside.

Pajarito said the victims were waiting for the motor launch that will take them to Taganak Island on their way to Sabah, Malaysia to work as laborers.

She said operatives were tracking down the victims for three days following information that there was a group of people who will slip out the country using the makeshift private wharf.

The rescued victims were immediately turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) who conducted the profiling of the victims.

Based on their initial investigation, some of the victims claimed they were hired without legal documents to work in a construction site managed by a Filipino.

It was also gathered that the victims came from Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur; Dipolog City, Labason, Labangan in Zamboanga del Norte; and from Manila.

The victims will be assisted by the DSWD and sent back to their places of origin.