Nineteen alleged victims of human trafficking rescued in Tawi-Tawi

MANILA, Philippines — Nineteen alleged victims of trafficking in person were rescued by authorities in Tawi-Tawi last October 11, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday.

According to PCG, passengers of a roll-on/roll-off vessel at the Port of Bongao in Tawi-Tawi were heard talking about their intent to travel to Malaysia.

“The PCG sea marshals on duty were conducting roving inspection and noticed a group of passengers talking about their intentions to travel to Malaysia,” PCG said in a statement.

The alleged victims were then brought to the Philippine National Police Maritime Station to undergo investigation. PCG said that the Municipal Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (MIACAT) also conducted an investigation.

It was found out that “during the interview, the victims confessed their intention to travel to Sabah, Malaysia, via illegal backdoor route to work without proper documents,” PCG added.

The PCG also noted that the victims received counseling from MIACAT before being brought to the Ministry of Social Service Development.

READ: Anti-trafficking agencies rescue 22 persons in Tawi-Tawi

On the other hand, 22 individuals were rescued in the same province last August. The victims were traveling to Sabah, Malaysia without proper travel requirements.

In August alone, cases of individuals rescued in Tawi-Tawi from possible human trafficking reached 140.

READ: Trafficking, smuggling seen to ease as Tawi-Tawi-Sabah link opens

Meanwhile, Mindanao Development Authority Head of International Relations Divisions Jonathan Miral previously said that opening a new sea route that will formally link Bongao in Tawi-Tawi and Lahad Datu town of Sabah in Malaysia will decrease the cases of smuggling and human trafficking cases.

Miral explained that anyone passing through the route will be needing to present passports and other travel documents.