Fourteen would-be trafficking victims were rescued Wednesday in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, according to the Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC). Lt. Cdr. Chester Ross Cabaltera, WMNC spokesman, stated that the operation took place at Sanga-Sanga Airport in Tawi-Tawi’s provincial capital. The victims, comprising 12 women and 2 men mostly from Luzon and Visayas, had traveled from Manila to Zamboanga City before heading to Tawi-Tawi. After documentation, they were handed over to the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) for assistance. The operation involved close coordination among military, police, Coast Guard, and the Municipal Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (MIACAT) of Tawi-Tawi. Rear Admiral Constancio Arturo Reyes Jr., WMNC commander, praised the swift response and emphasized the Command’s commitment to combating human trafficking. MIACAT is investigating the recruiters and syndicates behind the scheme, which promised overseas employment but lacked legal documents, leaving victims vulnerable to exploitation. The rescue underscores the ongoing challenge of human trafficking in the southern Philippines, where syndicates exploit porous borders and the lure of overseas work. (Frencie L. Carreon, MindaNews)
