Human trafficking victims rescued in Zamboanga hotel raid

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines — At least 10 would-be human trafficking victims bound for Lebanon were rescued by joint police and law enforcement agency and arrested a suspected facilitator in a downtown hotel, a police official said Tuesday.

The City Police Office anti-vice section led by Police Senior Inspector Garry Bahoy with the Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force rescued 10 females Sunday morning in a hotel on Mayor Jaldon Street.

Bahoy said the suspected facilitator identified as Ricardo David Atayan, a resident of Duncaan, Barangay Boalan was also arrested during the raid.

The suspect claimed that he was only tasked by his supervisor Paskal Shreih, a Lebanese and alleged recruiter, City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro said.

Casimiro said the victims reportedly came from Luzon and were bound for Lebanon via Sandakan, Sabah.

The victims were turned over to the social welfare office to assist them in their return to their places of origin while the suspected facilitator was detained at the police office as charges are being prepared against him.

The latest rescue brought to 34 the number of would-be trafficking victims rescued this month.