Ex-beauty queen, 5 Russians rescued from human trafficking ring in Makati

MANILA, Philippines — A former beauty queen and five Russian women were rescued on Thursday by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in a human trafficking operation at a luxury hotel in Makati City.

The NBI said its International Operations Division (IOD) conducted the operation around early Thursday, which also resulted in the arrest of a male talent manager and owner of a well-known modeling agency.

The NBI added that the operation was conducted after it received information that the female victims—including pageant titleholders, artists, and models—were allegedly being offered for commercial sexual exploitation at various hourly or overnight rates.

The modus operandi supposedly also includes arrangements involving local and international travel for companionship services.

During the entrapment operation, the NBI’s agent-on-case arranged the booking of the women the suspect offered.

“The subject agreed to provide the women at a discounted rate of P25,000 each plus commission,” the NBI said.

The suspect was then arrested after receiving the marked entrapment money from the NBI-IOD poseur-operative.

The six female victims are currently under the protective care of the Makati City Social Welfare and Development Office for appropriate aftercare and necessary interventions.

Meanwhile, the arrested suspect underwent inquest proceedings and faces charges for violations of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012. /gsg/cb