The NBI headquarters in Manila (File photo / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested five persons involved in human trafficking operations and rescued 28 female victims in an entrapment operation in Makati City, the agency said.
NBI Director Dante Gierran, in a statement on Monday, identified the suspects as Edwin Bayona, Alfred Valenzona, Richard Cahusay, Agustin Ramirez, and Charlie Quiobe.
NBI’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-Ahtrad) arrested the suspects during an operation last August 15 at a house in Barangay Palanan, Makati City that was being used in the illegal activity.
During the operation, NBI agents rescued 28 females, two of them are minors.
The rescued victims were turned over to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The NBI said its operation stemmed from an information that the suspects were recruiting and offering the victims for sexual exploitation to their clients for a fee.
The suspects operate in a “casa” where the clients would pick up the girls.
Once the girls have been chosen, NBI said they would be taken by the client to a hotel or motel for sex.
The suspects have been charged with violating Republic Act 9208, the Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by RA 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012).