ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - At least eight people, mostly minors, were rescued on Thursday by police forces at a local hotel in Zamboanga City while preparing to be slipped to Sabah for human trafficking, a security official said.
City Police Director Sr. Supt. Angelito Casimiro said the rescue operation was carried out by the joint elements of the Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force (SBATTF) following intelligence information that the victims were gathered at the hotel along Campaner Street about 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
The victims who were brought to the Women’s and Children Protection Desk of Police Station 11 were recruited from Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay and were promised jobs in Sabah.
Casimiro said the recruiter of the victims managed to evade authorities, leaving the victims of recruitment prior to the rescue operation.
The rescued victims were brought to the Department of Social Welfare and Development where they were processed for assistance to bring them back to the places of origin.