NBI rescues 137 human trafficking victims, 3 suspects arrested

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) rescued 137 human trafficking victims and arrested three human traffickers in an operation in Pasay City on Saturday.

NBI Director Dante A. Gierran identified the arrested suspects as Patricia Lambino alias “Mommy,” Rosie Lopez and Marilyn Filomeno. The suspects are already facing a complaint for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended by Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Human Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 as well as RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995.

The NBI conducted the rescue operation based on information given by a 16-year old girl offloaded by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). The girl was supposed to be bound for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the NBI said.

The 16-year old girl said she was recruited in her hometown in Maguindanao. She said she was able to get a passport through a certain Pamiya Muhammad. In the passport, the victim’s age was stated as 23. The victim said she stayed at an apartment in Pasay City which is owned by a recruitment agency while waiting for her flight to Saudi Arabia.

The victim said she was given a certificate of training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and a pre-departure seminar although she never attended any of it. She told authorities that more minors and others are staying in the apartment and are due for deployment abroad.

Armed with the information given by the victim, the NBI, together with agents from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), raided the apartment and conducted the rescue operation.

Of the 137 rescued, 25 were minors. Most of the victims, according to the NBI are from provinces in southern Philippines specifically Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao Del Sure and Cotabato.  /muf