Suspected human trafficking victims rescued

MANILA, Philippines—Suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard in Zamboanga province, a report from Radyo Inquirer 990AM said Tuesday.

The report quoted PCG spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Algier Ricafrente as saying that PCG received the information from the Visayan Forum  Foundation Inc., informing them of nine suspected human trafficking victims onboard MV Trisha Kertin-2, which was then docked at the Zamboanga City pier but was just waiting for its departure time for Sandakan, Malaysia, via Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Ricafrente said they took custody of the victims after discovering in a  mandatory pre-departure inspection that all nine individuals didn’t have appropriate documents for their travel.

The victims were later turned over to the Department of Social Welfare  and Development, he said.